So, with our discussion of the construction of mental illness, there is a fascinating article by psychology today on the subject of the changes that will be made within the new DSM-5. Since some would argue that mental illness is purely a construction, then these changes are a simple reconstruction of mental illness. If there is more to mental illness than just construction, where mental illness does correspond to some kind of reality, then these changes could be catastrophic.
For example, classifying grief as clinical depression implies that there is something wrong, or bad for grieving. By claiming this, grief for a lost spouse, parent, or child can now be considered a mental illness. This brings up interesting questions on what a normal functional human. Is a normal functional human someone who is always content and happy? Or is a functional human someone who experiences sorrow and crippling despair along with happiness?
By constructing this new definition of depression, the DSM is claiming that experiencing grief is not a proper function of human behavior. What are other's opinions on this?
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