OPINION LETTERS
This thi ng called life From Joanna Jastrzebska Peter Aldhous warns us about the new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders (DSM) as if it will be something of a nuclear bomb (12 December 2009, p 38). I disagree. The DSM is not the only classification of mental and behavioural disorders. It is used mostly in the US. The rest of the world uses Section F of the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification ofDiseases and Related Health Problems. Some doctors don't even consult a manual to reach their diagnoses. Aldhous reports on an editorial in the Psych iatric Times, where Allen Frances wrote that broadening categories within the DSM would result in the medicalisation of normality and "a deluge of unneeded medication". I would argue
that the effects will be hardly noticeable - because this is already happening. I have worked as a psychiatrist for 10 years, enough time to see an increasing number of people consulting psychiatrists for all sorts of life-related problems, and using diagnostic terms to tell us that they are depressed, bipolar or suicidal. At first, I thought that it was all the fault of us doctors, that we medicalise these poor, unhappy, non-coping people. But the longer I work, the more clearly I see that people want " a diagnosis" because a diagnosis means there must be a treatment, and a treatment amounts to an easy way of getting their life or themselves fixed. Then they ask for medication. They want tablets to stop them crying, although their mother died only two weeks ago, or something to calm them down when they become aggressive after they have a drink. They ask us to sort out their unruly
Enigma N u mber 1580 If you knew what I knew" ,
children who have never known any boundaries. They want it sorted and they want it now. This problem is partly a result of the modern pressure to be happy and advert-perfect all the time; if you aren't, there must be something wrong with you. Another part of it is the lack of life skills and poor social support networks courtesy ofthe decline of traditional family
structures and close friendships. I am astounded by the number of people who come to ask me for a diagnosis, and who are then unhappy when I try to explain that this is called "life". If the DSM is a bomb that is going to explode, it will probably generate more smoke than fire. North Sh ields, Tyne and Wear, UK
SUSAN DENHAM I played a little logical game with my two highly intelligent godsons, Proddy and Addy. I had in mind three d ifferent digits chosen from 1 to 8 and I whispered the product of the three to Proddy and the sum of the three to Addy. 1 explained all this to them and our conversation then went as follows: Me: "Proddy, can you now work out what my three numbers are?" Proddy: "No,"
Me: "Now do you think that Addy will be able to work out what my
numbers are?" Proddy: " N o, he will
not be able to work them out."
Addy: "Now I know what the numbers are!"
What are they? WIN ElS will
be awarded to the sender of the first correct answer opened on Wednesday 3 March, The Editors decision is final. Please send entries to Enigma 1580, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald's Road, London WClX 8NS, orto enigma@newscientist.com (please include your postal address), Answer to 1574 Doubly square date: The two dates are 12 April 2009 and 4 December 2009 The win ner Geoff Stone of North Bayswater, Victoria, Austra l ia
24 1 NewScientist 1 30 January 2010
Buyer power
must strongly disagree with researcher jennifer jacquet, who seems to dismiss the role of consumer-awareness programmes (9 january, p 11). It is true that fOCUSing only on consumers won't drive change in the way fish are caught and farmed. But grass-roots consumer demand underlies the success we and others in the sustainable seafood movement are having with major buyers, whose seafood purchasing decisions are changing the way fish are caught and farmed worldwide. Seafood Watch is best known for its consumer pocket-guides and iPhone application, but we also work with major buyers. We have partnerships with both Compass Group and ARMARK, North America's two largest food service com panies, which are now buying millions of kilograms of sustainable seafood in collaboration with Seafood Watch. Others in the broader sustainable seafood movement are forming similar alliances with major retailers. In large measure, consumer demand inspired by programmes like Seafood Watch is what is driving this change. Consumer seafood-awareness programmes aren't the be-all and end-all, but they are a critical part of a campaign that must succeed if we want a future with healthy oceans. Your article also incorrectly stated that the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch programme rates Atlantic halibut as a sustainable species. In fact, our online Seafood Watch recommendations clearly identify Atlantic halibut as a Red List species to avoid. Monterey, Californ ia, US
From Edward Cassano, Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey Bay Aquarium and its Seafood Watch programme agree with the call in New Scientist's editorial for " sound science" to be the basis for determining what is and what isn't a sustainable fishery (9 january, P 5). Seafood Watch has established itself among consumers and major seafood buyers as a reliable source for identifying sustainable wild足 caught and farmed seafood. Future-proofing pies Since 1999, we have based all our seafood recommendations on the From Jack Cribb best available science, and vetted Like Bryn Glover, I am concerned about how to preserve digital them with independent experts. family photos for 50 years or so We are having a real impact on (9 january, p 26). Not only do you the major seafood buyers and