Allan Horwitz Bücher

This comprehensive treatment should appeal to not only specialists but anyone who is interested in how diagnoses of mental illness have evolved over the past seven decades-from unwanted and often imposed labels to resources that lead to valued mental health treatments and social services.

Issues -- Personality Disorders Emerge -- Personality Becomes Social -- Personality Flourishes -- Personality Disorders in the DSM-III -- Personality Contentions in the DSM- -- Mental Disorders or Problems in Living?

Exploring the historical evolution of anxiety, the author examines how this pervasive condition has been perceived and managed from ancient times to the present. With a focus on notable figures like Hippocrates and Freud, the narrative delves into societal attitudes and treatment methods over the centuries. The book highlights the paradox of rising anxiety levels in modern, affluent societies, offering insights into the complexities of mental health and the enduring struggle against anxiety disorders.

Thirty years ago, less than five percent of the population was estimated to have an anxiety disorder; today, estimates exceed fifty percent, suggesting a tenfold increase. This rise raises the question of whether it indicates a genuine medical epidemic. The authors argue that psychiatry has largely created this "epidemic" by inflating natural fears into psychiatric disorders, resulting in over-diagnosis and over-prescription of anxiety medications. Current definitions of disordered anxiety focus on irrational anxiety disproportionate to real threats. However, the authors contend that fearing non-dangerous things—like heights or negative judgments—can be a normal part of human nature, as seen in some PTSD cases. They challenge the trend of labeling distressing conditions as "mental disorders" and propose a nuanced approach to differentiate between psychiatric disorders needing treatment and normal anxieties, which may seem irrational but are evolutionarily rooted. Many commonly diagnosed fears, such as those of snakes or social evaluation, have evolved in response to historical risks that are no longer relevant. By integrating insights from psychiatry, evolutionary psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history, the book deepens our understanding of anxiety and mental health in America.