Reduction in psychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the doctrine of reductionism in psychiatry.


METHODS
A selective review of the literature.


RESULTS
Two arguments offered in support of reduction in psychiatry are presented and found to be unsatisfactory. An argument supporting skepticism about reduction is described.


CONCLUSIONS
Currently, there is little reason to think that any significant portion of psychiatric theory will be reduced to neuroscience or genetics.
Gold
Ian
I
Department of Philosophy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. ian.gold@mcgill.ca
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009446:Neurobiology / Q000639:trends; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000639:trends*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*