Description: PART 1. Classification and Diagnosis ISSUE 1. Is the DSM-IV a Useful Classification System? YES: Allen Frances, Michael B. First, and Harold Alan Pincus, from "DSM-IV: Its Value and Limitations," Harvard Mental Health Letter (June 1995) NO: Herb Kutchins and Stuart A. Kirk, from "DSM-IV: Does Bigger and Newer Mean Better?" Harvard Mental Health Letter (May 1995) Psychiatrists Allen Frances, Michael B. First, and Harold Alan Pincus contend that although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders , 4th ed. (DSM-IV) has certain limitations, it represents a vast improvement over previously used systems andincorporates the most up-to-date knowledge available. Professor of social work Herb Kutchins and professor of social welfare Stuart A. Kirk assert that the American Psychiatric Association'sdiagnostic system, particularly the current edition, DSM-IV , is so flawed that its utility should be seriously questioned. ISSUE 2. Is There Gender Bias in the DSM-IV ? YES: Terry A. Kupers, from "The Politics of Psychiatry: Gender and Sexual Preference in DSM-IV," in Mary Roth Walsh, ed., Women, Men, and Gender: Ongoing Debates (Yale University Press, 1997) NO: Ruth Ross, Allen Frances, and Thomas A. Widiger, from "Gender Issues in DSM-IV," in Mary Roth Walsh, ed., Women, Men, and Gender: Ongoing Debates (Yale University Press, 1997) Forensic psychiatric consultant Terry A. Kupers asserts that several phenomena pertaining to gender and sexuality are pathologized in thediagnostic system of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) . Ruth Ross, Allen Frances, and Thomas A. Widiger, coeditors of the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV Sourcebook , disagreewith the notion of bias associated with gender and sexuality. PART 2. Psychological Conditions ISSUE 3. Is Multiple Personality Disorder a Valid Diagnosis? YES: Frank W. Putnam, from "Response to Article by Paul R. McHugh," Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (July 1995) NO: Paul R. McHugh, from "Resolved: Multiple Personality Disorder Is an Individually and Socially Created Artifact," Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (July 1995) Psychiatrist Frank W. Putnam contends that the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder meets the standards for the three basic forms ofvalidity: content validity, construct validity, and criterion-related validity. Psychiatrist Paul R. McHugh denies the validity of multiple personality disorder, asserting that this condition is a socially createdbehavioral disorder induced by psychotherapists. ISSUE 4. Does Attention Deficit Disorder Exist? YES: Edward M. Hallowell, from "What I've Learned From ADD," Psychology Today (MayJune 1997) NO: Thomas Armstrong, from "ADD: Does It Really Exist?" Phi Delta Kappan (February 1996) Psychiatrist Edward M. Hallowell asserts that an appreciation for the complexity of attention deficit disorder (ADD) can provide valuableunderstanding about the workings of the brain and how this disorder affects the lives of millions of people. Educational consultant and former special education teacher Thomas Armstrong contends that the diagnosis of ADD has been blown out ofproportion by the public and the professional community and is, in fact, a questionable diagnosis. ISSUE 5. Should All Uses of MDMA (Ecstacy) be Prohibited? YES: Robert Mathias and Patrick Zickler, from "NIDA Conference Highlights Scientific Findings on MDMA/Ecstasy," NIDA Notes (December 2001) NO: June Riedlinger and Michael Montagne, from "Using MDMA in the Treatment of Depression," in Julie Holland, ed., Ecstasy: The Complete Guide (Park Street Press, 2001) Science writers Robert Mathias and Patrick Zickler argue that MDMA has skyrocketed in popularity and that insufficient attention has been paid to the physical and psychological risks associated with its use. June Riedlinger, an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy, and Michael Montagne, a professor of pharmacy, contend that the risks associated with MDMA use have been exaggerated and that there are legitimate therapeutic uses for this substance. ISSUE 6. Does Post-Abortion Syndrome Exist? YES: E. Joanne Angelo, from "Post-Abortion Grief," The Human Life Review (Fall 1996) NO: Joyce Arthur, from "Psychological Aftereffects of Abortion: The Rest of the Story," The Humanist (March/April 1997) Psychiatrist E. Joanne Angelo contends that women who have abortions are at risk of developing a lasting, serious syndrome consisting ofseveral emotional and behavioral problems. Social activist Joyce Arthur asserts that a general consensus has been reached in the medical and scientific communities that most women whohave abortions experience little or no psychological harm. ISSUE 7. Are Repressed Memories Valid? YES: Richard P. Kluft, from "The Argument for the Reality of Delayed Recall of Trauma," in Paul S. Appelbaum, Lisa A. Uyehara, and Mark R. Elin, eds., Trauma and Memory: Clinical and Legal Controversies (Oxford University Press, 1997) NO: Elizabeth F. Loftus, from "Creating False Memories," Scientific American (September 1997) Psychiatrist Richard P. Kluft supports the notion that people can recover memories that have been long unavailable, and he cites severalverified examples in which psychotherapy patients recalled previously inaccessible memories of traumatic events. Psychologist Elizabeth F. Loftus cites extensive laboratory research to support her conclusion that suggestion and imagination can create"memories" of events that never actually occurred. ISSUE 8. Should Abstinence Be the Goal for Treating People With Alcohol Problems? YES: Patricia Owen, from "Should Abstinence Be the Goal for Alcohol Treatment," The American Journal of Addictions (Fall 2001) NO: Anne M. Fletcher, from Sober For Good: New Solutions for Drinking Problems--Advice from Those Who Have Succeeded (Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001) Psychologist Patricia Owen asserts that abstinence is the safest and most honest treatment goal for most people who are dependent on alcohol. Health and medical writer Anne Fletcher contends that many people with alcohol problems can be successful in their efforts to control their drinking, particularly if they are given professional guidance and support. PART 3. Treatment ISSUE 9. Are Prozac and Similar Antidepressants Safe and Effective? YES: William S. Appleton, from Prozac and the New Antidepressants: What You Need to Know About Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Serzone, Vestra, Celexa, St. John's Wort, and Others, rev. ed. (Plume, 2000) NO: Joseph Glenmullen, from Prozac Backlash: Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Other Antidepressants With Safe, Effective Alternatives (Simon & Schuster, 2000) Psychiatrist William S. Appleton asserts that Prozac and other drugs in the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can provideeffective relief for depression as well as other mental health problems and concerns, with minimal side effects. Psychi

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