Are you happy? You may have a psychiatric disorder.

[FLPanhandle]

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2010/11/22/ncbi-rofl-a-proposal-to-classify-happiness-as-a-psychiatric-disorder/

“It is proposed that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder and be included in future editions of the major diagnostic manuals under the new name: major affective disorder, pleasant type. In a review of the relevant literature it is shown that happiness is statistically abnormal, consists of a discrete cluster of symptoms, is associated with a range of cognitive abnormalities, and probably reflects the abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. One possible objection to this proposal remains–that happiness is not negatively valued. However, this objection is dismissed as scientifically irrelevant.”



No, it's not serious but is a great effort to point out the way psychiatrists define what is "normal". Based on their criteria, happiness is considered abnormal.

[YOY]

1. MY GOD! Bjork was on to something!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38UrRpYsPjw

[ananda]

2. The DSM manual is so fat now that..

.. you'd practically need a forklift to move it around.

There is a designer drug for every possible diagnosis or label, and many
doctors and psychiatrists prescribe multiple drugs to patients now.

To be honest, I don't know how the patients survive that long, but
obviously it's long enough to make doctors and pharmaceuticals very
rich and.. oh .. happy.

[FLPanhandle]

3. Exactly.

Oh and LOL at the "and..oh..happy" bit.

[pipi_k]

4. Breathing...pulse....signs of psychiatric disorders.... n/t

[pinboy3niner]

5. All of us have some degree of dysfunction

Most of us could be considered "nuts" to one degree or another. Issuance of DSM-V has been delayed largely because of disagreements over the many new 'disorders' proposed for inclusion.

While it may be a good thing to highlight how broadly mental disease affects all of us, defining disorders TOO broadly diminishes the seriousness of more severe disorders. The framers of the new manual really have their work cut out for them.