There's a difference between what I would call a mental disorder and normal stress reactions or normal reactions to adversity. The DSM doesn't necessarily distinguish those unfortunately. If we went to the Ukraine right now, the majority of human beings in the Ukraine would be diagnosed with brain disorders according to DSM. There are so many other causes of metabolic problems in people. Diet, exercise are huge ones, but they're not the only ones.
Christopher Palmer, MD, is the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For over 27 years he’s held administrative, educational, research, and clinical roles in psychiatry. His new book, Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health—and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More, is out now.