Horizon Season 2008 Episode 12 How Mad Are You? (1 of 2)

How Mad Are You? (1 of 2) is the twelfth episode of the 2008 season of the popular BBC series, Horizon. This episode delves into the complex world of mental illness and explores how diagnoses are made. The show begins with a brief overview of the history of mental illness and the evolution of treatment options. The episode then jumps into the main question at hand: just how reliable are psychiatric diagnoses?

The episode centers around a unique experiment conducted by a team of psychiatrists. The experiment involves recruiting a group of healthy people who have never shown signs of mental illness and transporting them to a facility where they will be locked up and put through a series of tests and scenarios designed to mimic a real-life psychiatric situation. The team is made up of psychiatrists from leading universities and institutions, including Kings College London, Oxford and Cambridge.

One of the psychiatrists leading the experiment is Professor Robin Murray, a well-known figure in the field of mental health. He explains why this type of experiment is so important in terms of diagnosing mental illness. "The criteria we use to diagnose illness are based on observations of sick people and we don't know how well they apply to non-sick people," he says. "We're testing whether the criteria we're looking for are specific to illness or if they're just normal variation that happens in people."

Over the course of several days, the participants are put through a range of tests designed to induce stress and anxiety. They are forced to wear uncomfortable restraints, have their sleep disrupted and are subjected to constant questioning by psychiatrists. To make matters worse, they are told that they may not be allowed to leave the facility until they receive a diagnosis. As the experiment progresses, some of the participants start to show signs of mental distress.

The show also covers a range of other topics related to mental health, including the pros and cons of drug therapy, the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the role of psychotherapy. Viewers also hear from individuals who have suffered from mental illness and the steps they took to recovery.

The episode is informative and engaging, with interviews with leading psychiatrists, researchers and patients. It raises a number of questions about the current state of mental health treatment and the different approaches used by psychiatrists. It is clear that there is still much work to be done in terms of diagnosing and treating mental illness, but this episode provides a great deal of insight into how the field is evolving.

Overall, How Mad Are You? (1 of 2) is a must-watch for anyone interested in mental health and psychiatry. It provides a great overview of the current state of mental health treatment and raises a number of thought-provoking questions about the future of the field. The second part of the series promises to be just as engaging and informative.