I work in phys-med OT, but want to take a run at this. Perhaps they mean organic meaning that there is an biological source of mental illness at the impairment level as defined by WHO but the impairment may not adversely effect function. Perhaps the illness is mild enough, or they have learned ways to cope, or they are being treated appropriately so they are able to function. Functional illness would imply that regardless of the degree or severity of the mental illness they have, they are in some way disabled: that their function is adversely impacted.
Does that help to clarify, or give some more ideas? For those who do practice in this area, Am I way off, or pretty close? Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 3:24 PM Subject: [OTnow] organic versus functional illness > Hi, > > I wonder if any one can help me. I am currently a second year OT student on > a mental health placement and am having a hard time on my second placement. > One of the questions my supervisor has asked me is, 'What is the difference > between functional and organic illness and give examples'? I had answered that > Organic is a natural evolving illness and functional is aquired by life style, > I now know this is wrong as my supervisor had great pleasure telling me this. > I have been given the task of finding out what the difference is but I am > struggling to find it in text books. I would appreciate any body's view on this > and any recommended books. > > Thankyou > essexcel > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com > > The OTnow Mail Archive: > www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > =============================================== > _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com The OTnow Mail Archive: www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================
