Psychiatry and Neurology
Both good and bad reasons exist as to why the fields of psychiatry and neurology should be considered as one. Both sides hold equally compelling arguments, and both are correct.
Psychiatry and neurology differ since psychiatrists aim to study, prevent, treat, and diagnose various mental disorders within the human mind, and neurologists attempt to deal with disorders caused by the nervous system. Since the nervous system is directly linked to the mind, many believe that the two fields are really closely related.
Perhaps the dean of Harvard Medical School (Joseph B. Martin) put it best when he stated that “the separation of the two categories is arbitrary, often influenced by beliefs rather than proven scientific observations. And the fact that the brain and mind are one makes the separation artificial anyway.” Many (such as Martin) believe that various neuro-chemical factors are at play when it comes to various mental diseases. The very same factors are again at play when it comes to neurology. For example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease seem to stem from the same neurological source. Hence, the two disciplines can be seen as the same thing. Still, those that believe the two categories should be separate have another argument altogether.
Neurologists tend to believe that various neurological illnesses are not the result of a mental imbalance. However, if we are to go back to Martin’s point, it is clear to see that an illness such as Alzheimer’s is directly affected by the brain. The question is, why does one type of mental illness cause a mental disorder while the other causes a neurological disorder? Are they the same? Psychiatry and neurology may never merge in order to create one discipline, though they do certainly overlap.
As you can see, this debate is a heated one that causes many to staunchly support or put down the idea that the two fields of study should become one. Regardless, both disciplines can help the other one out immensely, since they are both focused upon investigating the brain as a whole.
Psychiatry and neurology are two estranged lovers caught in a war over terminology. No matter what side you may be on, this debate is sure to continue for centuries to come. Either way, both fields have one goal in mind, and that goal is to help ease the mental suffering of humans whether they are undergoing neurological or psychiatric pain.