Metaphysics & Psychology

Nail biting classed as a 'mental disorder'

By T.K. Randall
November 5, 2012 ·  60 comments

Image Credit: Kommissar Nail biting has always been seen as an unhealthy habit that a lot of people pick up at some point in their lives, but according to the upcoming version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders the tendency to chew at one's nails might soon be classed as a type of obsessive compulsive disorder. "Nail biting isn't a disorder unless it is impairing, distressing, and meets a certain clinical level of severity," said Dr. Carol Mathews.

Unsurprisingly the idea that people who bite their nails are suffering from a mental disorder has been received with a considerable degree of criticism. Some argue that just about every abnormal behaviour is ending up in the medical books and that drug companies are using such diagnoses as an excuse to sell more of their products.[!gad]Nail biting has always been seen as an unhealthy habit that a lot of people pick up at some point in their lives, but according to the upcoming version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders the tendency to chew at one's nails might soon be classed as a type of obsessive compulsive disorder. "Nail biting isn't a disorder unless it is impairing, distressing, and meets a certain clinical level of severity," said Dr. Carol Mathews.

Unsurprisingly the idea that people who bite their nails are suffering from a mental disorder has been received with a considerable degree of criticism. Some argue that just about every abnormal behaviour is ending up in the medical books and that drug companies are using such diagnoses as an excuse to sell more of their products.

Source: Huffington Post | Comments (60)

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