Mental Illness or Physical Illness On August 9th, 2011 the Wall
Street Journal published an intriguing article written by
Melinda Beck titled, “Confusing Medical Ailments Will Mental
Illness”. Let’s look at a few of the interesting highlights.
Barbara Schildkrout, author of “Unmasking Psychological
Symptoms” states that more than 100 medical disorders can
masquerade as psychological conditions. Her book was written in
hopes of helping both therapist and patients broaden their
understanding and diagnostic skills. She quotes studies
suggesting that medical conditions may cause mental health
issues in as many as 25% of psychiatric patients and contribute
to them more than 75% of the time. When you consider how many
people, from children to the elderly are now on some sort of
psychiatric medication you realize the importance of a correct
diagnosis of their condition. According to Children and Adults
Against Drugging America’s website, the number of
antidepressants prescribed annually for children under 19 in
2008