Duro golpe a la institución médica: “todos los médicos somos José Edgar Duque”

Por cuenta del sistema judicial colombiano, ratificado por la sala de casación de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, se profirió un duro fallo y una “representativa” sentencia contra el Dr. José Edgar Duque, médico patólogo que ejerce en el Valle del Cauca; los que causan desconcierto e indignación, y por los cuales manifestamos una enérgica protesta.Le comunicamos a la comunidad colombiana e internacional, que como médicos no podemos callar frente a este largo proceso judicial, el cual parece desconocer siglos de historia de la ciencia médica y atentar contra los derechos humanos de los médicos, quienes elegimos una profesión que exige tomar decisiones diarias en pro de la salud y la calidad de vida de un paciente, con base en un alto grado de incertidumbre, pero nunca para hacer daño, sino para hacer el bien, como principio ético

El acuerdo de paz como expresión de confianza colectiva contribuye a la salud mental

Con relación a los acontecimientos ocurridos el 24 de agosto de 2016, en lo tocante a la firma del acuerdo final para la terminación del conflicto y la construcción de una paz estable y duradera, la Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría (ACP) y la Asociación Latinoamericana de Psiquiatría (APAL), como asociaciones gremiales y científicas, sin filiación política, registran en ello un motivo de celebración. Por una parte, celebración de la voluntad política que durante cuatro años supuso negociar, articular y definir posturas de la delegación del gobierno nacional de Colombia y de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de  Colombia (FARC), en torno a la decisión mutua de ponerle fin a un capítulo del conflicto armado nacional

Problematic, absent and stigmatizing diagnoses in current mental disorders classifications: Results from the WHO-WPA and WHO-IUPsyS Global Surveys

This study examined English- and Spanish-speaking psychologists' and psychiatrists' opinions regarding problematic, absent and stigmatizing diagnoses in current mental disorders classifications (ICD-10 and DSM-IV), and their perceived need for a national classification of mental disorders. Answers to open-ended questions included in WHO-WPA and WHO-IUPsyS surveys were examined using an inductive content-analysis method. A total of 3,222 participants from 35 countries were included. The most problematic diagnostic group was personality disorders, especially among psychiatrists, because of poor validity and lack of specificity. Complex posttraumatic stress disorder was the most frequent diagnosis suggested for inclusion, mainly by psychologists, to better account for the distinct processes and consequences of complex trauma. Schizophrenia was the diagnosis most frequently identified as stigmatizing, particularly by psychiatrists, due to lack of public understanding or knowledge about the diagnosis. Of the 14.4% of participants who perceived a need for a national classification system, two-thirds were from Africa or Latin America. The rationales provided were that mental disorders classifications should consider cultural and socio-historical diversity in the expression of psychopathology, differences in the perception of what is and is not pathological in different nations, and the existence of culture-bound syndromes. Implications for ICD-11 development and dissemination are discussed. © 2014 Asociación Española de Psicología Conductual

Psychosomatic and Person-Centered Medicine

Psychosomatics involves an important approach to medical care that is connected to a holistic theoretical perspective as well as a practical guide to clinical work. To this effect, this paper briefly reviews psychosomatics within the framework of holistic theory and care, which happens to be one of the key concepts of person-centered medicine (PCM). Next, the paper considers the basic notions of person-centered medicine and the way this has evolved historically from ancient civilizations through modern medicine. The conceptualization of PCM is further approached from a systematic study organized by the International College of Person Centered Medicine. After that, the paper focuses on person-centered psychiatry in general and then more specifically on person-centered diagnosis both as a theoretical model and as a practical guide