Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the assumption underlying Western medicine when it comes to mental health research?
What is the assumption underlying Western medicine when it comes to mental health research?
What is a limitation of the Western medical approach to mental health research?
What is a limitation of the Western medical approach to mental health research?
What is a criticism of the Western medical approach to mental health research, according to Fried and Robinaugh (2020)?
What is a criticism of the Western medical approach to mental health research, according to Fried and Robinaugh (2020)?
What is the significance of self-organized states in CFD therapy?
What is the significance of self-organized states in CFD therapy?
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What is the main limitation of focusing on a client's history, problems, or diagnoses in CFD therapy?
What is the main limitation of focusing on a client's history, problems, or diagnoses in CFD therapy?
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What is the primary focus of effective CFD therapy?
What is the primary focus of effective CFD therapy?
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Why is it necessary to appreciate a client's history and how others have responded to their behavior?
Why is it necessary to appreciate a client's history and how others have responded to their behavior?
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What is the main difference between Western medicine's approach and CFD therapy?
What is the main difference between Western medicine's approach and CFD therapy?
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What is the role of understanding a client's history in CFD therapy?
What is the role of understanding a client's history in CFD therapy?
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Study Notes
Bias in Mental Health Research
- Western medicine assumes that the cause and effect of mental disorders are objective entities, where identifying and addressing the cause will eliminate the symptoms.
- However, the complexities of human experience make it challenging to determine the cause of a mental disorder at the time of diagnosis.
- Despite this, Western medicine operates under the assumption that there is an objective causal element that can be identified and addressed to eliminate symptoms.
Limitations of Western Medicine
- The Western bias in mental health research has flawed consequences, which are discussed in Integrated CFDT, part of the Advanced CFDT series.
- Western medicine is slowly acknowledging that mental health arises from the interaction of multiple systems, rather than a single objective cause.
Systems-Based Approach
- Mental health and mental illness arise from the interaction of systems, rather than a single objective entity (Fried & Robinaugh, 2020).
- This perspective highlights the complexity of mental health and challenges the traditional Western approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Characteristics of Complex Systems
- Complex systems consist of a hierarchy of levels, including subsystems composed of subsystems, with interacting units.
- Emergent properties arise from the interaction of subsystems when environmental conditions are met, and these properties are on a larger scale than the scale of subsystem interactions.
- Coherent phenomena appear that do not depend on the subsystems or their interactions.
- Complex systems undergo transitions from one dynamic state to another, becoming self-ordered as they approach a transition.
Self-Organized States
- Self-organized states have far fewer variables than unorganized states, due to the "enslavement" of many variables to state variables.
- In CFD therapy, self-organized states relate to cognitive function profiles.
- The Process Cognitive Files (PCFs) serve as the state variables.
Implications for CFD Therapy
- We don't need to focus on specific neurons firing or moment-to-moment firing patterns.
- Instead, we concern ourselves with the PCFs in CFD therapy.
Complexity of Client Treatment
- We cannot identify a single "root cause" for clients seeking CFD therapy or specialist services due to the complex interactions of multiple systems and subsystems.
Limitations of Western Medicine
- Western medicine's philosophical bias can hinder client treatment by encouraging practitioners to focus on individual symptoms or problems rather than considering the larger context.
Importance of Focusing on the Future
- Focusing solely on a client's history, diagnoses, problems, or behaviors will not help them move forward effectively.
- Understanding a client's history and environment is important, but it is equally crucial to focus on their future trajectory and goals.
- CFD therapy should prioritize the client's desired future state, rather than solely relying on their past experiences.
Effective CFD Therapy
- CFD therapists and specialists should adopt a proactive approach, focusing on where the client wants to be and how they can help them achieve their goals.
- A balanced approach is necessary, considering both the client's history and their desired future state.
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Description
Explore the bias in Western medicine's approach to mental health research and diagnosis, where assumptions are made about objective entities. Learn how this affects treatment formulation and practice.
