The post explores a new model for understanding mental disorders as networks of interconnected symptoms rather than discrete diseases with underlying causes. Longer summary

This post discusses a new way of understanding mental disorders proposed by Nuijten, Deserno, Cramer, and Borsboom (NDCB). Instead of viewing psychiatric conditions as discrete diseases with underlying causes, they suggest viewing them as networks of interconnected symptoms. The author explains how this model can account for various aspects of mental illness that are difficult to explain with traditional models, such as comorbidity, the effects of life stressors, and the polygenic nature of mental illnesses. The post also considers some limitations of this approach, particularly in explaining conditions like bipolar disorder and the rapid effects of treatments like ketamine. Despite these issues, the author finds the network model compelling as a way to understand the complexity of psychiatric disorders. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander analyzes online drug ratings, finding patients prefer older antidepressants while doctors prefer newer ones, and explores potential explanations for this paradox. Longer summary

Scott Alexander analyzes patient ratings of antidepressants from online databases, finding that older drugs like MAOIs are rated higher than newer ones. He then compares this to doctor ratings, discovering a negative correlation between patient and doctor preferences. The post explores possible explanations for these paradoxical results, including confounding factors and the hypothesis that newer antidepressants may actually be less effective. Scott extends the analysis to other drug classes, finding the negative doctor-patient correlation holds broadly, while the preference for older drugs is specific to psychiatric medications. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander defends psychiatric treatment for suicide attempts, arguing that most are impulsive decisions by people with treatable mental disorders rather than rational choices. Longer summary

Scott Alexander argues in favor of psychiatric treatment for attempted suicide, emphasizing that while there may be rare cases of rational suicide, most attempts are impulsive decisions made by people with mental disorders. He presents evidence that the majority of suicide attempters later regret their actions and that psychiatric treatment can significantly reduce suicide rates. The post discusses statistics on mental disorders among suicide attempters, the temporary nature of many suicidal crises, and the effectiveness of psychiatric interventions. Scott also addresses common misconceptions about psychiatric hospitalization and argues that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for most patients. Shorter summary