Scott Alexander examines whether psychiatrists should test for lead more often, concluding that while it could be relevant in some cases, there's not enough evidence to justify universal testing.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the question of whether psychiatrists should test for lead more often in patients with mental health issues. He presents a case where lead poisoning was found to be a factor in a patient's psychiatric symptoms, and explores the broader implications of this. Scott then examines the complexities of deciding which potential factors to test for in psychiatric practice, given the numerous possible causes of depression and other mental health issues. He argues that while lead could be a factor in some cases, there's insufficient evidence to justify universal testing. He also discusses the challenges of interpreting and acting on test results, especially when they fall within normal ranges. Scott concludes by reflecting on different approaches to medical practice and the difficulties of balancing evidence-based guidelines with emerging theories and individual clinical judgment.
Shorter summary