I could – but should I?

Should we treat all psychological disorders?
I believe this is an important question. First of all we have all treatment of untreatable disorders. To inspire hope in that kind of fruitless work is a total waste of resources. However, the issue is broader than that. The important question is about the ethical consequences arising from the fact that the amount of treatable disorders is increasing. Another way to put it: Should we help with whatever the patient wants?

We don’t train youths with antisocial disorder in manipulation skills, even if this would make the person feel better. Not a controversial decision. But there are other things with which our clients ask our help, things that without doubt raise ethical questions.

Take social phobia for instance. Even if science strongly suggests that people with social phobia are extroverted, we still continue treatment of this phobia. Why is that? Do we really need more people talking? On the contrary, I say the world needs more listeners.

An even more obvious case is flight phobia. We are all aware of the challenge of global climate change. Where are the ethics in providing help to make people able to use an aeroplane? Shouldn’t an ethical behavior mean reinforcing their avoidance behavior and shaping them into role models for others instead? Another solution could be buying emission rights as a part of the treatment.

The psyhologist’s position in society grows stronger. With more power comes greater responsibility. Are we ready to step up to that challenge?

In press: Malmaeus, F. ( 2008 ) Environmental disasters resulting from treatment of flight phobia in western patriarchal society. Gothenburg.