The “Mental” in “Mental Illness” is Really a Misnomer

The illnesses we consider “mental” all have a physical aspect to them, namely the brain. Whenever we use the phrase “mental illness,” we reinforce the false dichotomy of mental vs. physical, mind vs. body, which leads many people to question whether brain dysfunctions such as obsessive compulsive disorder and depression are truly illnesses, even when they have no trouble agreeing that certain so-called mental illnesses, such as autism, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s are also physical.

There will never be true parity in the treatment of “mental illnesses” until this misnomer is corrected. The terms “brain disorders,” “brain dysfunctions” or “neurobiological disorders” are preferable and more accurate.
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