The problem with psychiatry is that it issues a *subjective* diaganosis, with no method of discerning a false positive. Then goes on to prescribe “cures” that may or may not be worse than the problem, while at the same time stigmatizing the “diagnosed” individual.

Of course in the 70’s psychiatry was dying… then the APA got in bed with the drug companies and cute things like Thorazine and Prozac… and voila… when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Take this example. Someone doesn’t want to touch a public bathroom door handle. OCD or is the individual just correct that public bathroom door handles are filthy?

Another example…

Shrink 1: “Does it take so much time it interferes with your life”?

Poor Patient 1: “Well yes I have to work and can’t keep up with all the washing of my hands I feel is needed based on the facts”.

Shrink 1: “You have OCD, we have some SSRI and response therapy for that”
(I.E. we can train you to be a good worker bee and get your ass back to work.)

Shrink 2: “Does it take so much time it interferes with your life”?

Poor Patient 2: “Well, no I don’t have to work. I just want my stuff clean and it takes a lot of time. It’s driving me nuts that people don’t respect my things.”.

Shrink 2: “You should discuss these issues with those around you.”

In short the criteria, “Interferes with you functionality” depends on who you are and what you life is like, as opposed to being about finding a broken part in the patient.

There oughta be a law against this sort of diagnosis method and stigma attachement.