They just started the database about a month ago, so it needs time to fill with therapists. Get the word out, and hopefully they'll be able to open the database soon.
This thread is of particular interest to me, because the subject is one that I'm particularly weak on. The Jungian theories seem a bit whack to me, in fact a lot of psychology bothers me.
Don't worry, it is.
I like Neuroscience, you can physically observe what's happening in the brain and link it to various phenomena.
Unfortunately, that doesn't really help us with most of what's in the DSM. Mental illness is far more complex than what can be seen with the tools we currently have.
This is where I'm unsure; on where the lines in between neuroscience, psychiatry and psychology. I don't know if some or all mental illness is observable by brain malfunction. I understand that the mechanics of things like depression are understood, so we can treat it in different ways.
Neuroscience: figuring out how what regions of the brain does what, how it does it and how we can manipulate it. This can also include things that don't fit under psychiatry and psychology, like Parkinson, epilepsy and general perceptions.
Psychiatry/Psychiatrists: The use of medications and chemicals to help with mental illness, basically.
Psychology/ists: The use of cognitive and behavioral therapies to help with mental illness and stress, basically.
Psychology is my biggest gripe though, because it's "in the mind", it seems to me that most of what's understood is based mainly on empirical generalization. I don't know if our understanding of the way are thoughts are processed is based on any more than speculation or whether there is proven links. Not that clinical studies and empiric observation aren't evidence, but isn't there anything else we base our understanding on?
There is a lot of evidence that behavioral and cognitive therapy can do a world of wonders on many of the more mild mental illnesses, such as phobias and anxiety. It's an expensive and sometimes a very long process, but it can certainly turn someone's life around.
I seem to know a lot about this subject. I took 5 courses in college on this subject, but I've learned a lot more outside of college by reading various books. I'll make some good recommendations:
Don't Believe Everything You Think A good place for the basics.
Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me Excellent look on cognitive dissonance.
Anything by Oliver Sachs. He has some of the most amazing case studies.
Phantoms in the Brain Also some great case studies with more neuroscience than Oliver Sachs.
Madness Explained An excellent overview on mental illness and a conglomeration of ground breaking studies. Really gets to the meat of the thought processes going on when someone is experiencing various mental problems. I'm considering reading it again soon.
