Today is the last day of the conference. This morning two very eminent men discussed how the new classification system in draft (ICD-12 in the first talk, DSM5 in the second) there is a conflict between what is known and how symptoms cluster and what people want.
The best example was narcissistic personality disorder. There is no evidence that differentiates this from the other externalising personality types. It was not in the original draft of DSM5, and is not in ICD12 draft. However, in the last month, some senior member of the APA insisted it be added, despite evidence, because it was his career.
The rhetoric is that our classification systems should be driven by evidence. From scientific studies. Preferably replicated scientific studies. However, politics are driving the classification system that will distort the science.
If we allow politics to make the truth lies, if we see ourselves as special, there is a remedy, and he is a cross-grained prophet called Amos.
7Are you not like the Ethiopians to me, O people of Israel? says the LORD. Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? 8The eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth — except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,
Any privileged we have… as a nation, as a family, as a city is by the grace of God. ANd God holds people, families, cities, and nations accountable. We must not assent to that patriotic lie that our nations are particularly blessed. Instead we should acknowledge that we are accountable. For to whom much is given, much sill be required.