This doctoral dissertation effectively refutes the biopsychiatric model.

Cite key: Seidel (1998)

Seidel; Jason A.. 1998. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE DISCONFIRMS THE BIOPSYCHIATRIC ONTOLOGY OF MENTAL DISORDERS. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Keywords: Biochemical Etiology; biochemical imbalances



Abstract:

Although serious mental disorders are popularly referred to as the result of “biochemical imbalances;” a great deal of biopsychiatric research invalidates this notion. Evidence indicates that mental and physiological phenomena are mutually determined; but that conceptual and linguistic limitations make the understanding of a parallel mental and physical expression difficult to grasp. Biopsychiatric research is critically reviewed and reconceptualized as showing that while mental disorders are expressed physiologically; this does not determine causality. Recent studies show that both damaging and therapeutic interpersonal experiences create lasting changes in brain physiology. Additionally; genetic; morphological; and functional brain research has yielded more equivocal correlations with mental disorders than are customarily reported in the popular press. Treatment studies indicate that clinical improvement of reputedly biochemical disorders often occurs independent of any pharmacological effects.

However; economic incentives by pharmaceutical companies and medically oriented health insurance companies may bias clinicians’ treatment approaches toward pharmacological interventions. The confusion between a biopsychiatric epistemology of mental disorder and a biopsychiatric ontology of mental disorder is clarified; emphasizing that a particular method of inquiry does not determine the essence of what is being studied.

Interesting question, Yaron. To prove a "chemical imbalance", we need to measure chemical substrates, intracellular and extracellular levels of a given chemical, it's effect at the synapse, modulation via re-uptake enzymes, receptor effectiveness vs resistence and response to other chemical modulators....all of which is not done on human brains on a cellular level. We dont stick probes into human brains. Therefore, we use animal models and clinical response. The term "chemical imbalance" can refer to many situations, none of which imply, too much or not enough.