Bitterness: The Next Mental Disorder?

that some psychiatrists are urging it be identified as a mental illness under the name post-traumatic embitterment disorder.

But when justified anger at such incompetence is discussed as a sign of mental illness, it is borderline insulting, especially because half the reason for the discussion is to ensure that drug companies—anxious to prod their faltering revenues—can promise relief from the alleged disorder with yet more pharmaceuticals.

Imagine, if you will, the inevitable ads: "Think it's just bitterness from job loss, foreclosure on your home, or that nonexistent pension for which you've been saving all your working years? It may be 'post-traumatic embitterment disorder,' a mental illness that some doctors think is due to a chemical imbalance . . ."

as usual

the APA

has ignored or shunted aside most of the explanatory context, to pathologize the individual in all of her or his frustrated grievance.