Mental Health Profile | Photo by Rigos101 via Wikimedia Commons
Iatrogenesis or iatrogenic artifact refers to the unintended effects of a medical or mental health intervention, usually resulting in more harm than good. For example, an insomniac is prescribed a tranquilizer but becomes addicted to the drug.
The term has also been loosely used to describe psychosocial interventions meant to help; however, they produce the opposite results. At first glance, it appears as an oxymoron. The fact is it is quite common, especially when trying to help an addicted person or anyone with a similar malady. One could write volumes on the human drama involved in trying to help someone trapped in his own addictive behavior. A wife will do anything for a husband to help him get off drugs, including suggesting he goes to a treatment place. The same husband will beg for another chance, and “if he could only have some money or stay for the night so tomorrow, he could start working on his plan to get help.” The wife doles out her grocery money for the week, hoping that he is serious about getting help this time.
As soon as he has the money, he is out the door onto the streets. The next day, he seems oblivious of his promises; instead, he is busy hatching his next scheme to hassle other people for more money. He would appeal for sympathy, and some will fall for it thinking they are helpful. I know of so many mothers who would continue to provide money to their children on drugs for fear these “kids” would resort to robbing people if they didn’t have the money.
“It [Iatrogenesis] occurs in many forms of human relationships. It enters into the way we try to raise healthy and self-sufficient children where overzealous parental help could undermine personal autonomy or foster dependency. It plays a factor in how we nurture groups or a classroom to achieve a high level of group cohesion or learning.”
In the helping field, there are many instances when the supposed treatment results in more harm than cure. It can happen when the healer himself needs help. A pastor or a clinician who joins the helping profession to find solace from his own personal suffering is more likely to confuse his efforts to “help” others with his own unmet needs. His own personal agenda often cloud his clinical decisions, and he ends up exploiting his clients. Unresolved personal issues can make the clinician over-identify with clients’ problems beyond a healthy threshold. When a clinician is not well grounded, he loses his capacity to provide the help that is indeed helpful.
Iatrogenesis is not only confined to the formal process of helping as in medical practice, counseling, or therapy. It occurs in many forms of human relationships. It enters the way we try to raise healthy and self-sufficient children where overzealous parental help could undermine personal autonomy or foster dependency. It plays a factor in how we nurture groups or a classroom to achieve a high group cohesion or learning level.
It is in knowing what, when, how, and how much to intervene and offer help to promote individual growth or healing. It requires a certain level of personal awareness and discernment on the helper’s end to be able to provide appropriate help to others. Any gesture of “help” that prolongs the agony, violates personal dignity, meets the helper’s needs more than the recipient, or enables the person to continue his harmful action, more often than not, is an iatrogenic artifact.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Fernando B. Perfas is an addiction specialist who has written several books and articles on the subject. He currently provides training and consulting services to various government and non-government drug treatment agencies regarding drug treatment and prevention approaches. He can be reached at fbperfas@gmail.com.
