Mental Disorders and Treatment

Mental Disorders are Not Real: Using Skepticism and Critical Thinking to Challenge Key Myths in the Science of Mental Health

Abstract

Pashak TJ

This review aims to identify and correct several prevalent misunderstandings about mental health and mental disorders which are potentially damaging to society. Organized into themes around four myths about mental disorders, this discussion provides readers with helpful information and references to other useful readings to support their skepticism and critical thinking about psychopathology. The four myths identified here are that mental disorders are unimportant, are solely biomedical entities, are only treatable with medication or CBT, and are real. In each case, the author makes a reasoned argument to the contrary, culminating in a discussion about how mental disorders are actually not real, but are nevertheless very important considerations. Throughout the discussion several logical fallacies are introduced (e.g., confusing correlation with causation, the nominal fallacy, the reification fallacy), as well as brief historical notes on the field of psychology (e.g., varying treatment modalities, schools of thought around treatment impactfulness, and problems with language progression in research).