Mental Health News, 2017

In today’s world, many of us view science as something like an infallible religion. “Science says” or “research proves” are phrases that have an almost biblical-like quality, and are often used in a dogmatic manner to justify a particular worldview or belief system.

Although I am incredibly passionate about science (I am a cognitive neuroscientist after all!), I do understand that it has its limits. As something used and understood by fallible human beings, science is gift from God that we do not fully understand—we are, and will be, in the process of unwrapping this gift.

It is imperative that we approach science with a healthy degree of epistemological humility. We make mistakes, and we should constantly be aware that these mistakes have a real-world impact. Max Planck’s well-known quote that “science dies one funeral at a time” can, unfortunately, be taken literally. Human lives, and the lives of all living things, are often at stake in the game we call science.

One example of this real-world impact is recently published article on ADHD in the Lancet. In their findings, the researchers argued, incorrectly, that individuals diagnosed with ADHD have smaller brains. Robert Whitaker, Harvard professor, journalist and mental health advocate and his Mad in America Foundation, wrote a letter to the Lancet challenging the article’s findings and showing how the data was misinterpreted to portray people labelled with ADHD as somehow biologically deficient in terms of their brains, a finding that can have political and social ramifications for the individuals involved. These people are not numbers on a chart in a laboratory; they are human beings who have to deal with circumstances that are unique to them, and their difficulties should be understood in the context of their complex, multidimensional lives.

To learn more about the way science can be manipulated and misunderstood, watch epidemiologist Ben Goldacre’s TED talks on Bad Science and Bad Pharma, and Peter Gotszche’s talk on the manipulation of data in the field of psychiatry.

These findings should not, however, discourage us, nor should they taint our view of science in general. From penicillin, to the discover that the brain can change (neuroplasticity), we have much to celebrate in the way of scientific discoveries. Science, after all, is a description of the HOW of God’s beautiful creation, and one way we can worship the magnificent nature of our Creator.

Blessings,

Caroline

WANT TO SEE DR LEAF ON TV OR AT A LIVE EVENT?

Watch the Dr Leaf show on Wednesday’s on TBN at 2.00am PST/3.00am CST and 4.00am EST

3.30pm PST/5.30pm CST and 6.30pm EST

If you miss the shows you can watch the REPLAYS

Or join us at one of the 2017 speaking events. See SCHEDULE

See the promo for tomorrow’s episode.