Philosophy matters in brain matters.
Seizure April 1, 2013 Siri Hustvedt
A first-person critique argues that the terms 'functional,' 'organic,' and 'psychogenic' in neurological diagnosis perpetuate a Cartesian mind-body dualism that most clinicians claim to reject. The author, drawing on personal experience with medically unexplained seizures, contends that a close reading of a textbook chapter on psychogenic seizures reveals the author's unreflective separation of psyche and soma, implicit bias against illnesses labeled psychogenic, and sexist assumptions. The author proposes that even when symptoms persist, heightened self-consciousness and narrative framing can strengthen a patient's sense of agency and offer therapeutic benefits, concluding that ethical treatment demands respect for patients' stories.