The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy E92 Psychiatry, Privatisation, Psychotherapy, the DSM & Trump (with Professor Allen Frances)
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Jul 25, 2024 Allen Frances, Duke psychiatrist and former DSM-IV chair, shares sharp reflections on psychiatry’s evolution and systemic failures. He discusses privatization’s harms, overprescribing, psychotherapy access, the DSM’s role, and risks to democracy and public life. Short, candid takes on treatment, policy, and cultural drivers of mental health.
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Why He Chose Psychiatry
- Allen Frances chose psychiatry because he felt more competent and humane with patients than in other medical fields.
- He learned about people and himself through close patient relationships during his career.
Deinstitutionalization Needs Sustained Support
- Deinstitutionalization succeeded only with sustained community funding and support services.
- When funding was cut, many severely ill people ended up homeless or incarcerated, worsening outcomes.
Profit Warps Mental Health Priorities
- Privatized mental healthcare prioritizes profitable, low-cost patients and neglects the most severe cases.
- Public systems like the NHS protect vulnerable people by distributing care according to need, not profit.
