I think most people's disagreement here was with the terminology. I
think that when Exeat berated the use of "syndrome" he wasn't challenging the existence of the symptoms, but the fact that medical dudes can put a stamp on a bunch of (usually commonly associated) charateristics, without any apparent research and get a syndrome named after them. For example, Hyperactivity and short attention spans aren't exactly chalk and cheese - you'd expect one with the other, but to term it a syndrome is a bit much. Basically, you've got an annoying little bastard on your hands there. It must be psychological, because what else can it be? The point is, this "syndrome" is no greater a discovery than farting in the bath.
[sweeping generalisation]
That said, if you look at all the classic Syndrome's, they're all pretty hand wavey and non-specfic - does that make them less valid?
[/sweeping generalisation]
Which brings me on to a very interesting point....
[cue violins]
My brother was diagnosed as a manic-depressive. Ever since then, I've heard the term (specifically 'depression') over used and mis-applied to anybody who's feeling a little bit odd. Oh yeah, "nervous breakdown" too. Getting a bit annoyed for a few days is not a nervous breakdown. My brother was "ill" for about 3 to 4 years (he's ok now... somehow
).
Nothing is scarier than not recognising your brother's behaviour .... this person you've known for over 20 years and they're just not ... right.
It's the most harrowing experience in my life. I suppose the state of mania was a little more concerning than the depression. If someone's depressed, they're compos-mentis, but they just can't be bothered with life itself. If someone's manic it's what you'd scientifically term "as crazy as a box of frogs". Admittedly (almost but not quite contradiciting my previous point), the symptoms were kinda related:
Insomnia, Inventiveness/Creativity (stuff that would just never work), Short Attention Span, Contempt ....
I will agree that some disorders and syndromes are created and diagnosed under questionable circumstances. Perhaps it gets them funding or noteriety or something. I think it's all part of the same culture; the fact people now take a couple of weeks off work with a nervous breakdown is indicative of this "create and label" medical society.
Going back to the original point/debate ... Who says that social-ineptness can't be genetic? Yes, it's largely a charater-trait of someone, and that can be brought on through how the child learns/behaves... but who's to say that this particular character trait can be a result of something other than learned behaviour?
wow .. a raven-sized post.
If I can't eat it, drink it , **** it or fire it, I'm not interested