Peter Dupré

Letter to: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

Psychiatry for all

From Dr Peter Dupre, Lingfield, Surrey

Sir, In his Presidential Address to the Section of Psychiatry (November 1984 Journal, p 911), Dr Bridges clearly outlines the aspects in which medical psychiatry and 'pop' psychiatry differ. I suggest that the conflict lies deeply in the Weltanschauung of Western Europe. Motivation is a key factor for Freudians, Marxists as well as for Christians. It is thus very difficult for them to believe that the mere taking of a pill can prevent a man thinking he is Napolean or from believing his neighbours are poisoning him. In ancient Greece the matter was quite different. It was quite usual for Heroes to dock at island ports and be administered mood-changing potions by beautiful maidens. In contrast, the giving of iron to a patient who is tired and irritable is readily accepted, although there is no fundamental difference. Perhaps, however, the chain of events is more amenable to explanation in mental terms and might be compared to the removal of a splinter to relieve pain. It is interesting to note that both iron and psychotropic drugs are prescribed in the absence of correct indications.

PETER DUPRE

20 December 1984