What would you say if I told you that your doctor was going to put you on heavy-duty anti-depressants not because you’re depressed, but simply because he was just too lazy to read? 

It sounds crazy right?  Unfortunately—as a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reveals—it’s quite common. 

It turns out that an astounding 75 percent of general practice docs—and an additional 25 percent of psychiatrists—are choosing to ignore their own guidelines when diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD). 

Those guidelines, set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), exist to give doctors the guidance they need, and to protect us from being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.  But, of course, they only can work if doctors follow them! 

Docs admit to ignoring depression guidelines

When a group of doctors were asked how often they are using the DSM-IV when diagnosing depression, the majority of them answered the multiple choice question with “less than half of the time.” 

The author of the study, psychiatrist Dr. Mark Zimmerman, offered up the whiz-bang theory that doctors may not be using the DSM-IV criteria because it’s very long and some may not be able to recall all of it. 

Umm… pardon me?!  He’s GOT to be kidding, right? 

The results of the study would have been ridiculous enough on their own.  But Dr. Zimmerman’s observations send this one right past ridiculous straight to shocking. 

Let’s see if I can break this one down:

The criteria for diagnosing a person with a serious illness are just too long for my doctor to recall. 

And apparently it’s too much trouble for him to actually pull them out and read through them when he can’t remember them. 

So, instead, my doctor embracing his laziness, chooses to throw caution to the wind, ignore the guidelines, and pronounces me “seriously depressed.” 

So, instead, my doctor embracing his laziness, chooses to throw caution to the wind, ignore the guidelines, and pronounces me “seriously depressed.”  Out comes the prescription pad and, next thing I know, I’m doped up on some serious medications to treat my illness.  Only problem is, I wasn’t even depressed to begin with. 

Zimmerman went on to helpfully suggest that perhaps we should shorten up the definition of MDD to assist the docs… who are blatantly ignoring the guidelines…t o get their diagnoses right. 

I suppose just expecting doctors to do their J..O..B… would be too much to ask? 

If you’d like to see what’s in the DSM-IV you can take a look at it here.  Better yet, you might want to be sure your doctor has the link. 

Disgusted… but not depressed. 

Related Articles