But they are not mentally ill. Many have been wrongly labeled bipolar; the author believes this is due to advocacy groups, neurotic parents and the drug companies who benefit from these diagnoses and the sale of medicines used to control their behavior. He believes the over diagnosing using the inaccurate DSM has propagated this pediatric epidemic.
In the first chapter Ronson receives an unmarked package sent from Sweden. The package contained a strange book including a picture of a human hand drawing another hand. As an investigative journalist, he embarks on a search for the sender of this bizarre package and their motivation. He does not get a clear explanation. In the second chapter he begins to reference the DSM-IV – TR – a 943-page reference with 374“ diagnoses” in hopes of finding science behind mental disorders connected with psychopath diagnosis. In chapter 3 he meets up with Bob Hare, a clinical psychologist who developed a psychopath test – a 30-question tool to help enforcement officials diagnose psychopathology in individuals already found guilty of criminal behavior. Known as the HAART PCL, this checklist became the standard tool to apply and possibly diagnose a mental disorder in someone who had murdered or severely injured another human being. Many other tools have followed with several hoping to be paid for their tools. In later chapters, he ventures into many of the levels of the“ madness industry.” Inside a British mental asylum for the criminally insane, Jon meets another influential psychologist who is convinced that many important business leaders and politicians are in fact high functioning psychopaths and teaches Ronson how to spot these pathological individuals. During his investigation, he spends time with a hospitalized“ smooth-talking” offender with no conscience, a death squad leader institutionalized for mortgage fraud and with a legendary CEO who took joy in shutting down factories and firing people at Sunbeam. He explores the history of the“ psychopathology” diagnosis and treatment from LSD feel-good days to therapy sessions in prisons. Applying the psychopath test and interviewing forensic psychological experts and members of the organized psychiatric profession, Ronson comes to the conclusion that we all are little psychopathic, and that relatively ordinary people are more and more defined by their most insane impulses and behaviors.
The boundary of pathology is very porous and open to individual interpretation. There has always existed a societal push for conformity and there is less tolerance of personal difference especially with the fragmented“ tribes” of today. Ronson notes that it’ s not all bad to be“ labelled,” as you can access more services, connect with others suffering and confer a sense of hope you are not being picked on for your behavior. I can accept that“ psychiatric diagnoses” can be fuzzy and some conditions are getting closer and closer to the boundary of normal. However, our scientifically minded community has trouble accepting vague or uncertain diagnoses which sometimes end in tragedies. This book, though written 15 years ago continues to ask the important question – have we inadvertently created a world that takes some ordinary behavior and labels distressed individuals with mental disorders? Look no further than our recent societal and political discord to draw your conclusion.
Dr. Wernert is the Executive Medical Director of Norton Medical Group and practices with Norton Behavioral Medicine.
SAVE THE DATE GLMS President ' s Celebration
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025
Celebrate an incredible year under the leadership of Lewis Hargett, MD, and welcome incoming President Thomas Higgins, MD.
Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches.
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