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Magic Markers
Scott Alexander critiques a study claiming to have found biomarkers for suicide risk, arguing that the results are overstated and such a test would have limited clinical utility even if accurate.
13 min read 1,958 words
A thread through the archive
psychiatry
Essays tagged “psychiatry”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on psychiatry
73 essaysSSC
Contrarians, Crackpots, and Consensus
Scott explores the nature of scientific contrarianism, discussing how ideas spread through the scientific community and the challenges faced by both crackpots and legitimate contrarians.
23 min read 3,495 words
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Things That Sometimes Work If You Have Anxiety
Scott Alexander reviews a wide range of treatments for anxiety disorders, from lifestyle changes and therapy to medications and alternative remedies, emphasizing the importance of exploring multiple options.
28 min read 4,251 words
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The Case Of The Famous Physicist
Scott analyzes a case of apparent psychiatric misdiagnosis, explaining the complexities and challenges faced by psychiatrists in evaluating patients' claims.
18 min read 2,705 words
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Reflections From The Halfway Point
Scott reflects on his psychiatry residency experiences, discussing the realities of psychiatric hospitals, patient care challenges, and his transition to outpatient work.
18 min read 2,766 words
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Prescriptions, Paradoxes, and Perversities
Scott Alexander analyzes online drug ratings, finding patients prefer older antidepressants while doctors prefer newer ones, and explores potential explanations for this paradox.
23 min read 3,430 words
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Polemical Imbalance
Scott Alexander defends his stance on the 'chemical imbalance' theory of depression, arguing that Mad In America's critique actually supports his view of a more nuanced understanding in psychiatry.
26 min read 3,936 words
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Chemical Imbalance
Scott Alexander defends psychiatry's use of 'chemical imbalance' theory, arguing it was meant to emphasize depression's biological basis rather than claiming a simple serotonin deficiency.
31 min read 4,675 words
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Highlights From My Notes From Another Psychiatry Conference
Scott Alexander shares insights and critiques from a psychiatry conference, covering topics from medication prescribing rights to new monitoring technologies and research methodologies.
12 min read 1,782 words
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The Efficacy Of Everything In Psychiatry In One Graph Plus Several Pages Of Dense But Necessary Explanation
Scott Alexander examines a study comparing the effectiveness of drugs and therapy for psychiatric disorders, discussing the results and methodological limitations of the research.
8 min read 1,167 words
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Prisons Are Built With Bricks Of Law And Brothels With Bricks Of Religion, But That Doesn’t Prove A Causal Relationship
Scott criticizes interpretations of a study suggesting psychiatric care might cause suicide, arguing this ignores the more likely explanation of selection bias.
11 min read 1,619 words
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The Categories Were Made For Man, Not Man For The Categories
Scott Alexander discusses how categories are human constructs that should be flexible when it serves a useful purpose, using examples from biology, astronomy, and transgender identity.
36 min read 5,459 words
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Medicine, As Not Seen On TV
Scott Alexander reflects on his first year of medical residency, contrasting reality with TV dramas and describing the complexities of hospital care.
15 min read 2,277 words
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Things That Sometimes Help If You Have Depression
Scott Alexander offers a comprehensive guide for treating depression, covering professional help, lifestyle changes, and supplements, emphasizing the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments.
46 min read 7,128 words
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Getting A Therapist
Scott Alexander discusses finding therapists, shares a helpful resource, and asks readers for therapist recommendations in specific areas.
2 min read 271 words
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Do You Believe Me, Doc?
Scott Alexander critiques standard psychiatric responses to psychotic patients and proposes more honest, nuanced alternatives based on individual patient circumstances.
9 min read 1,272 words
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Genetic Russian Roulette
Scott Alexander describes his increasing hesitation to have children due to his experiences with rare genetic disorders and difficult patients in psychiatry and medicine.
15 min read 2,240 words
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Science & Medicine Links for August
Scott Alexander presents a roundup of recent scientific and medical studies, covering topics from hallucinations to obesity genetics to schizophrenia treatment.
10 min read 1,438 words
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A New Chapter In The Codex
Scott Alexander announces reduced blogging frequency due to starting full-time work, expecting content to focus more on medicine and psychiatry.
3 min read 331 words
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In Defense of Psych Treatment for Attempted Suicide
Scott Alexander defends psychiatric treatment for suicide attempts, arguing that most are impulsive decisions by people with treatable mental disorders rather than rational choices.
26 min read 3,895 words
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Implicit Association Tests and Suicidality
Scott Alexander reviews a study using Implicit Association Tests to measure suicidal intent, expressing both excitement for the research direction and skepticism about its methodology and practical applications.
8 min read 1,191 words
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Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus officium!
Scott Alexander announces his acceptance into a psychiatry residency in Michigan, reflecting on the competitive nature of medical residencies and his unexpected positive experiences following a previous rejection.
12 min read 1,754 words