THE DIM SUM OF THE DSM

“Doctors use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM) to diagnose their patients. “The DSM-IV organizes each psychiatric diagnosis into five dimensions (axes) relating to different aspects of disorder or disability.” (Wikipedia) Herewith, a Chinese menu of DSM disorders and symptoms, groups according to their “axis”—Common Axis I, II and III. Choose one from Column A (left), then move to Column B (a la carte) to round out your order. (Example: Bipolar Disorder with Suicidal Ideation).”

(With apologies to anyone who can read Chinese.)

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THE BRAIN SHOW: DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!

The American Museum of Natural History’s THE BRAIN SHOW poses an “ethical problem” for the visitor to ponder: “What if healthy people used [drug-supported treatments] and then had super-memory? Should that be illegal? What if some countries banned these drugs and others didn’t? Or what if many of these treatments were so expensive that only wealthy people would be able to afford them, thickening the dividing line between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’? These questions may soon become impossible to ignore.”

Who wants to be left behind? CHECK YOUR ETHICS at the nearest drug store.

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THE BRAIN SHOW 4: REBUILDING YOUR OWN BIOLOGY

By now, the visitor to the American Museum of Natural History’s THE BRAIN SHOW has been convinced that drugs are OKAY (scroll down to check out my earlier posts on this topic.) Drugs work because they “resemble natural chemicals already in your brain.” The visitor is asked if they could change the way they think and feel by taking a drug, would they? “Chances are you already do,” the visitor is apprised. Billions of people “boost their alertness” by drinking coffee. (Didn’t they just identify caffeine as one of the BAD drugs?) Relaxing with beer or wine is normal. (Alcohol is not a problem?).

And what about the “millions who take prescriptions drugs to reduce depression and anxiety or improve concentration”? It seems that through drugs, you can remake yourself into a happier, smarter, more attractive person.

That is what The Brain Show is really saying.

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THE BRAIN SHOW 3: THE LOVE DRUG!

A bit of dopamine, a dash of endorphins, and some Oxytocin is what it takes to make a Love Cocktail. At THE BRAIN SHOW, in the wall text dealing with LOVE, I learned that “inhaling Oxytocin makes people feel more trusting. And in studies, men with naturally low Oxytocin levels were less likely to get married.” Wow, one day maybe there’ll be enough Oxytocin to inhale and we’ll have a real BIG LOVE-IN. Maybe Oxytocin is even the answer to WORLD PEACE!

WARNING
No matter how much we love the idea of a “Love Drug,” Oxytocin has shown itself to be an unreliable “medication” for other than narrowly-intended purposes, because it may cause a wide range of potentially dangerous and unpredictable “side effects.” For instance, injected Oxytocin is used to induce contractions in pregnant women and was originally developed to promote lactation. But here are the risks:

In the mother: anaphylactic reactions, postpartum hemorrhage, cardiac arrhythmia, fatal afibrinogenemia, nausea, vomiting, premature ventricular contractions and pelvic hematomas.

In the fetus or infant: bleeding in the eye; irregular heartbeat; seizures; slow heartbeat.

Similar dangers await those who use Oxytocin nasal sprays to enhance their sex life. See: http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/oxytocin

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