THE SUBJECTIVE IN MEDICINE

摘要: Recently, psychiatry has begun to attain a modicum of credibility among physicians and surgeons, at least the extent that it become more biological specialty. As psychiatrists call on positron emission tomography dexamethasone suppression tests for diagnosis employ profusion neurotransmitter agonists antagonists in therapy, they have look like "real" doctors. Thus, considering what I should say, was tempted write as neurobiologist. one small company who, during halcyon days psychoanalysis, had insisted brain is skull reasons other than ballast keep from floating off into space, might been expected be an enthusiast "new" psychiatry. Unfortunately, threatens so myopic its clinical vision may well substitute "mindless" future "brainless" past. In zeal emulate biomedicine, rival disregard psychological content social context sickness. Therefore, chosen reemphasize irreducible role subjective medicine. Dr. Donald Seldin, distinguished former president Association American Physicians, defined goals medicine "the relief pain, prevention disability, postponement death by application theoretical knowledge incorporated medical science individual patients" [I]. He emphasizes "narrow discipline" properly restricted correction biomedical derangements fundamental interactions are "face-to-face." makes clear his definition excludes "aggregate disciplines which influence health through cultural forces." Although he acknowledges "priestly function" [2] vital component medicine, does not regard formal domain