- Title
- Treat the patient not their labelled illness
- Creator
- Warelow, Philip; Edward, Karen-Leigh; Hercelinskyj, Gylo
- Date
- 2011
- Type
- Text; Conference paper
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/68810
- Identifier
- vital:4984
- Abstract
- Many areas of health care use a medical-model to underpin the care they deliver, promoting scientific investigation as the way to understand clinical phenomena. This paper argues that this safe option is representative of swimming between the flags and staying safe and really doesn’t capture the complete story. The reality in mental health is that scientifically proven evidence may not always exist and because of this clinical work should not be used as a laboratory where in the absence of scientifically proven evidence to support diagnostic categories that DSM IV-TR with its ‘catch all’ criteria should not be used to create an illusion of understanding. The dilemma between what is understood and proven through scientific methods and what is in essence opinion, is problematic, as science should command absolute loyalty. Obedience to criterion related processes deemed ‘proper treatment’ or fulfilling the modus operandi of the clinical area concerned really does not base diagnostic evidence on a clear scien- tific rationale. For mental health nurses in practice, the dilemma between what is understood and proven through scientific methods and what is seen in contextual practice becomes important in terms of clinical and therapeutic interventions. Using a scientific format, or waving its banner, really doesn’t add validity to those who speak as scientists; in fact its virtues often act as a smokescreen. The language, prestige, and trappings of science can often be so distracting that science’s core values are often overshadowed along with absolute clarity about what is known and not known. DSM IV-TR diagnoses on the basis of this are often based on operational definitions, rather than pathogenesis or aetiology which pro- mulgates treating the diagnosis rather than the patient. The diagnosis determines the care given and mental health nurses need to move away from swimming between the flags and advocate for their patients and promote the speciality(ies) of their discipline.
- Publisher
- Gold Coast Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
- Relation
- Paper presented at ACMHN's 37th International Mental Health Nursing Conference " Swimming between the flags" 4th to 7th October 2011 Gold Coast
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- Psychiatric nursing
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