On Fri, 27 Aug 1999, Rick Adams wrote:
> Richard P. Bentall in the June 1992 issue of
> Journal of Medical Ethics.
> "Happiness is a Psychiatric Disorder"
> Happiness meets all reasonable criteria for a
> psychiatric disorder. It is statistically abnormal,
> consists of a discrete cluster of symptoms, there is
> at least some evidence that is reflects the abnormal
> functioning of the central nervous system, and it is
> associated with various cognitive abnormalities; in
> particular a lack of contact with reality.
> Acceptance of these arguments leads to the obvious
> conclusion that happiness should be included in
> future taxonomies of mental illness, probably as a
> form of affective (mood) disorder. This would place
> it on Axis I of the American Psychiatric
> Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual".
> With this prospect in mind, I humbly suggest the
> following:
> Major affective disorder, pleasant type
> Once the debilitating consequences of happiness
> become widely recognized, it is likely that
> psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental
> heath professionals will begin to devise treatments
> for the condition. We can expect the emergence of
> happiness clinics, and anti-happiness medications in
> the not too distant future.
>
It is my understanding that abnormal means "away from the norms" and
it does not have to mean that it is a problem.
There is no social disruption or personal distress as a consequence of
being happy.
Michael Sylvester
Daytona Beach,Florida
