Betreff: Senator Frist's 'political paranoia' diagnostic paradigm
Von: "Marsha V. Hammond, PhD, Licensed Psychologist"
Datum: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 12:40:12 -0500



please pass this around to whomever you like.  marsha hammond, phd



Marsha V. Hammond, PhD: Licensed Psychologist: NC & current listserv manager of Division 32, American Psychological Association
e mail: hammondmv@netzero.com

January 10, 2005

RE: Senator Bill Frist's (R-TN) recommendation that there be a new DSM IV criteria associated with 'political paranoia.'


Hello:

I am extremely concerned about frivolous 'advances' in the diagnosing of mental health disorders, even though put forward by the sole physician in Congress, Bill Frist, MD.   I am therefore informing Tennessee  health care administrators as well as members of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. 

Relatedly, :

http://kurtnimmo.com/blog/index.php?p=485
“When the 109th Congress convenes in Washington in January, Senator Bill Frist, the first practicing physician elected to the Senate since 1928, plans to file a bill that would define ‘political paranoia’ as a mental disorder, paving the way for individuals who suffer from paranoid delusions regarding voter fraud, political persecution and FBI surveillance to receive Medicare reimbursement for any psychiatric treatment they receive,” writes Hermione Slatkin, Medical Correspondent for the Swift Report. “Rick Smith, a spokesman for Senator Frist, says that the measure has a good chance of passing—something that can only help a portion of the population that is suffering significant distress.”
“If you’re still convinced that President Bush won the election because Republicans figured out a way to hack into electronic voting machines, you’ve obviously got a problem,” says Smith. “If we can figure out a way to ease your suffering by getting you into therapy and onto medication, that’s something that we hope the entire 109th Congress will support.”


In the strongest terms possible, and as a psychologist who every working day puts forward legitimate psychiatric diagnoses for the sole purpose of assisting consumers and clients-----I am asking that this malevolently intentioned matter be treated with the utmost gravity. 


Sincerely,

Marsha V. Hammond, PhD: Licensed Psychologist


cc:
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Dept. of (615) 532-6610, 425 Fifth Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37243
Governor Bredesen: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
Health, Dept. of (615) 741-3111, 425 Fifth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37247
House of Representatives, Tennessee (615) 741-2901, State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37243
barbara.nance@legislature.state.tn.us: Office of Minority Affairs
General Welfare, Health and Human Services: Sen. James Kyle, Chair;  Rep. Henri Brooks, Vice-Chair ; Senators:
Bill Ketron, Tommy Kilby ; 
Representatives:
David Davis, Susan Lynn
American Psychiatric Association
TENNESSEE PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
Kimberly Settle, Executive Director
PO Box 690
Hendersonville, TN 37077
Phone: 615-826-8535
Fax: 615-822-8237
E-Mail: ckcsettle@aol.com
Forum@Psychologynet.org: DSM IV site
pracgovt@apa.org:  Practice Organization: American Psychological Association
ppo@apa.org: American Psychological Association, Public Policy
ethics@apa.org: Ethics Office, American Psychological Association
Humanistic Psychology Division: American Psychological Association
Subcommittee on Mental health and Substance Abuse: US Congress: 
        Subcommittee Chairman
Senator Mike DeWine (OH) - Website : caseworker@dewine.senate.gov
Republicans Democrats
·Senator Mike Enzi (WY): http://enzi.senate.gov/email.htm
·Website ·Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), Ranking Member:  http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_low.html
·Website
·Senator Jeff Sessions (AL)
·Website        ·Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM)
·Website
·Senator John Ensign (NV)
·Website        ·Senator Jack Reed (RI)
·Website