My contribution to the thread - IS FASD A MENTAL ILLNESS, OR NOT? on the Facebook group- Flying with broken wings.

1. Barry Stanley The confusion arises because FASD is correctly attributed to
alcohol interfering with the normal development of the brain. This results in all
the cognitive, information processing, physical and behavioural disabilities that
we are all familiar with .Like
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Barry Stanley Sorry, hit the return key again. To continue -- In the case of
psychiatry- it has created a book of human behaviours called mental illnesses,
based upon observed human behaviour. Until recently, the actual brain
developmental irregularities associated with mental health diagnoses were not
investigated. We have known for many years that individuals with the
developmental disabilities of FASD behaved in ways required for the
diagnosis of mental illness: often multiple mental health diagnoses. We also
know that since the developmental brain abnormalities of mental illnesses
have started to be looked at, they are the same as found in FASD.
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1 · 39 mins
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Barry Stanley Did it again - So, the question is not "IS FASD A MENTAL
ILLNESS OR NOT" but " ARE MENTAL ILLNESSES FASD OR NOT"
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Barry Stanley I can understand that those with fasd would not like to be labeled
with mental illnesses diagnoses. Although mental illnesses were initially
designated a secondary condition they are now considered direct
consequences of pae, and I would include pre conceptual consumption of
alcohol. The fact is that many individuals with FASD receive multiple DSM

2. diagnoses: I have seen as many as six. So far as chemical imbalance is
concerned. It is the term Psychiatry has used with patients, meaning an
imbalance in the neurotransmitters of the brain. Psychiatry attempts to correct
those imbalances with medications, with varying success. Prenatal alcohol
exposure interferes with the production and actions of the main
neurotransmitters, with which it has been investigated.
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Barry Stanley remember, the brain is the origin of our emotions, thoughts
and behaviour. It is a complex organ with complex functions, all of which are
interfered with by prenatal and pre conceptual alcohol consumption. The
Canadian Guidelines for the diagnosis of FASD now includes mental
illnesses [DSM5 diagnoses]. We have known for 18 years that 94% of those
diagnoses with FASD will receive additional diagnoses from the DSM,
including mood, behaviour and personality disorders.
- Psychiatry, with a few notable exceptions, has ignored this but not
disputed it.
- The DSM 5, and previous editions, does not include FASD/FAS/ARND
- The DSM5, for the first time, includes a diagnosis under
neurodevelopment disorders due to prenatal alcohol consumption.
However, it relates only to cognitive, memory and information disabilities,
similar to those required in our guidelines for the diagnosis of FASD.
- The diagnoses in the DSM are behavioural based. Until recently they were
not significantly related to actual brain anatomy and pathology, unlike FASD.
- Because there are innumerable forms and variations of human behavior
the number of diagnoses in the DSMs has varied in number and description,
depending on societies [political] needs at the time.
- Recently, and increasingly, psychiatric research has been directed to
where the mood, behavior and personality diagnoses originate - the brain.
- This research is finding that the brain abnormalities associated with these
conditions is similar or identical to what we already know is caused by
prenatal alcohol exposure. These similarities or identical findings are once
more ignored by Psychiatry, and interestingly by many of those working in
the fasd field.
- Political will and intervention is required to reverse the alarming affects of
prenatal alcohol on our society.
Political will and intervention will not occur until Psychiatry makes a
complete shift in its approach to all psychiatric conditions; that is -
recognize that they are due to brain developmental disabilities and that

3. prenatal, and pre conceptual, alcohol need to be considered as the their
cause. Sorry this is so long.
Barry Stanley. J. should Psychiatry ever acknowledge that mental illness is
derived from the brain due to pae and other factors then there will no longer
be a need for the DSM or Psychiatry as we know it. This process is being
resisted. There is so much at stake.