OVERVIEW FOCUS ON M.I. AS SOCIAL CATEGORY NOT ON PEOPLE WITH M.I. HOW GROUPS CREATE, USE, AND EXPAND CATEGORIES OF M.I. PROFESSIONAL, FAMILY, ECONOMIC EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, SOCIAL ANXIETY, AUTISM, ADD

FINDINGS 43 % OF WOMEN AND 31% OF MEN HAVE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION VERY WIDESPREAD PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM PEOPLE MUST KNOW THAT MEDICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP

DSM SYMPTOMS LACK INTEREST IN SEX ANXIETY ABOUT PERFORMANCE AROUSAL DIFFICULTIES UNABLE TO HAVE ORGASM CLIMAX TOO QUICKLY FIND SEX PAINFUL SEX NOT PLEASURABLE

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION BEST PREDICTOR? LOW SATISFACTION WITH PARTNER PEOPLE WHO DON’T ENJOY SEX WITH PARTNERS ARE CALLED MENTALLY ILL AND SHOULD TAKE MEDICATION

FINDINGS FIRST APPEARED IN DSM-III (1980) FIRST STUDY - “COMPELLING DESIRE” TO AVOID SITUATIONS – 2.75% PREVALENCE IN 1984 NCS – “UNREASONABLY STRONG FEAR” – 13.3% PREVALENCE IN 1994

WHY PERPETUATED? PERPETUATED BECAUSE BENEFITS PARTICULAR GROUPS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES RESEARCHERS CONSUMERS

AUTISM 273% INCREASE FROM BELIEF IN AUTISM EPIDEMIC SEARCH FOR CAUSES (E.G. VACCINATION)

GERNSBACHER BEFORE 1990, NOT EVEN REPORTED RISE TOO GREAT TO BE BELIEVABLE IN FACT, EXPANDED DSM CRITERIA MAKE IT EASIER TO GET DIAGNOSIS BENEFITS FROM DIAGNOSIS STARTING IN 1991 (IDEA)

AUTISM ADVANTAGES FROM DIAGNOSIS FOR FAMILIES COALESCE INTO SOCIAL MOVEMENT IMPORTANCE OF LAY GROUPS IN PROMOTING DIAGNOSIS

ADD DIAGNOSES

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR METHYLPHENIDATE

REASONS 1991 CHANGE IN FEDERAL DISABILITY POLICY FAMILIES – ENHANCE PERFORMANCE, CONTROL BEHAVIOR TEACHERS – MORE CONTROL IN CLASSROOM DRUG COMPANIES LAY GROUPS - CHADD

BENEFITS BETTER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BOOST SELF-ESTEEM HELP PARENTS AND TEACHERS

COSTS EFFECT OF LONG-TERM MEDICATION REGIME STIGMA? ABUSE OF DIAGNOSIS

SUMMARY TREMENDOUS RECENT RISE IN RATES OF TREATED M.I. INFLUENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL CO. INFLUENCE OF FAMILY GROUPS INFLUENCE OF DSM BENEFITS AND COSTS