René J. Muller, Doing Psychiatry Wrong: A Critical and Prescriptive Look at a Faltering Profession

Abstract

Doing Psychiatry Wrong: A Critical and Prescriptive Look at a Faltering Profession by Rene J. Muller powerfully challenges the current paradigm of mental illness. Muller’s arguments are the culmination of 10 years of clinical observation and frustration in three urban psychiatric hospitals. Muller successfully compels professionals of all levels of expertise to examine psychiatric diagnosis and treatment from what has become an unconventional angle. Muller reemphasizes the significance of the human being and free will into a practice that has become so heavily reliant on brain dysfunction. Initially, Muller describes the evolution of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To support his arguments, Muller integrates various case examples. In addition, misconceptions about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, paranoia, and depression are explained. Muller proposes a novel and refined method of conceptualizing mental disorders that emphasizes a dimensional approach. A major strength of Muller’s Doing Psychiatry Wrong: A Critical and Prescriptive Look at a Faltering Profession is the relevance of his perspective to a wide-range of individuals. In his writing, Muller is not afraid to go against the grain of current societal beliefs. The radical approach that Muller adopts gives his stories universal appeal. Although the arguments are most specifically directed towards psychiatrists and psychologists, all mental health and medical professionals may be influenced by Muller’s arguments. Furthermore, Muller’s perspective has the ability to challenge how mental health patients and lay members of society view personal struggles with mental illness. Muller effectively confronts the role of marketing and sales in the current conceptualization and treatment of mental illness. Consequently, Muller’s extreme arguments also have relevance to business and legal professionals. Muller’s perspective is supported by theory and knowledge gathered from various realms of scholarly work. He criticizes the current approach to mental diagnosis and treatment on the grounds that biology is overemphasized and psychology is underemphasized. In contrast, Muller successfully integrates theories of the mind, philosophical ideas, and biological science into a comprehensive theory. Muller manages to raise questions about the biological evidence being used to support current theories. Furthermore, Muller emphasizes that true understanding of mental disorders cannot be accomplished without accepting a multidisciplinary approach. In Doing Psychiatry Wrong, Muller effectively reintroduces the importance of understanding the distinctiveness of each patient. Muller argues that in psychiatric practice, human beings have been reduced to neurons and brain structures. Although Muller believes that symptoms are relevant to diagnosis, he argues that the meaning underlying symptoms is of greater importance. Muller suggests that symptoms should be understood before a diagnosis is given. In addition, he argues that patient motivation and free will should be assessed. Muller successfully emphasizes the importance that patients’ unique life stories have to a profession dedicated to helping individuals. In the final chapter of the book, Muller provides an alternative approach to diagnosis that can be implemented by psychologists or psychiatrists. Muller emphasizes a dimensional approach in his model. The guidelines provided are simple, straightforward, and encompass transtheoretical approaches. Despite the practicality of these A. L. Marquart (&) Psychology Department, Case Western Reserve University, Mather Memorial Building #103, 11220 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, OH 44106-7123, USA e-mail: Abby.marquart@gmail.com; abby.marquart@case.edu