In many ways, the year 2015 helped the world take mental health more seriously. Many celebrities have spoken out on the topic, and medical researchers found more effective ways to diagnose and treat mental illness.
Robert Spitzer, a top influential psychiatrist has died at age 83.
Dr. Spitzer was a pioneer, as he was credited with establishing modern classification of mental illnesses.
He was a leader in the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Dr. Spitzer was also one of the leaders in the fight to remove homosexuality from the mental disorder list in 1973.
According to his wife, he died from heart problems.
His work on many editions of the field’s diagnostic manual (DSM) was a “major breakthrough in the profession,” his wife told the Associated Press.
During his tenure at Columbia University in New York, he developed an approach that relied on research for diagnosing rather than traditional theory.
“Bob Spitzer was by far the most influential psychiatrist of his time,” Allen Frances, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University told the New York Times.
Without Bob Spitzer, the wave of attention that mental health is finally receiving may have never been possible.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Influential US Psychiatrist Robert Spitzer Dead at 83.” Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2016.
2. “Robert Spitzer, Influential US Psychiatrist, Dies Aged 83.” BBC News. BBC News, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2016.
3. “Robert Spitzer, 83, Dies; Psychiatrist Set Rigorous Standards for Diagnosis.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Dec. 2015. Web. 01 Jan. 2016.
4. “7 Ways 2015 Was Defined By Mental Health.” HuffingtonPost.com. HuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2016.
