1.
The publication that I chose was a piece from NPR News on All Things Considered titled "Children Labled 'Bipolar' May Get A New Diagnosis.'" I know that this is not a local piece but it was too good not to do, it is a perfect example for what we have been talking about in class. The report, in a nut shell, says that in the new DSM there will be a new disorder called Temper Disregulation Disorder (TDD), for children who would otherwise be diagnosed with bipolar disorder; except the new title goes to children with tenancies toward violence during their lows. TDD is considered a biological trait, but unlike bipolar disorder, is not considered a life long condition. The treatment will be the same medications used for bipolar disorder, which have shown to be the only treatment for both disorders.
My problem with this new title is that even though the treatment is going to be the same, this new title brings on a slew of potential problems. Bipolar disorder is already in the DSM and is covered by all medical insurance, where as the medical insurance companies would have to decide whether or not they will pay for TDD to be treated. What if a child who is labeled TDD can't get his insurance provider to cover his bills, where as if he was just diagnosed bipolar he would be covered. Another problem is the title, Temper Disregulation Disorder, sounds like the polite way to say uncontrolibly violent at times. Even if these children do get more violent than the average bipolar sufferer, why give them a title which would allow them to be destructive self fulfilling prophecies.
2.
Dear Michelle,
I was listening to your report on how children with bipolar disorder with more violent tendencies will be getting a new title called Temper Disregulation Disorder. Because TDD was recently added to the DSM it could bring on some troubling problems for families whose children will be labeled with TDD. Insurance companies must decide whether or not they will cover TDD, during this time I am worried that families would not receive coverage for TDD children. I also worry that children diagnosed with TDD will be treated with a prejudice by schools, future employers, and other people in general. Bipolar disorder is already well recognized and accepted, so adding a new title to a disorder with the same treatment seems unnecessary and dangerous to these kids. It makes no logical sense to divide these children from the rest of the bipolar group, just to give them a new title.
Sincerely,
Jack Stine
Yes dude. You're right, this is total horse shit. Even putting the whole insurance thing aside (which is an extremely good point, by the way), it's totally unfair that someone would take an already established condition and further alienate it. If it has the same treatment why do we have to reclassify it!? It bothers me that anyone would even research this in the first place. I'm sure it helped to further understand bipolarity, but i feel like it should have stayed within that subcategory--maybe just one of the symptoms of bipolarity--not this whole other condition. I love what you said about the long-term repercussions later in life--like getting a job, or being treated differently. I guess it comes back to the whole idea of giving names to things so we can 'know' them. Still, in my opinion it's just too much. Unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you and Alex. And worse now 'temper' (I remember having a lot of it) is suddenly a 'condition. Gods help every moody boy in the world.
ReplyDelete