Changing terminology

I applaud Dr. Nasrallah’s visionary April editorial. One of the biggest obstacles to lifting stigma is the mental-physical categorization. “Mental” is the last slur still commonly used, instantly bringing to mind its synonyms: “crazy,” “looney,” and “nuts.” This term should be extinguished from the psychiatric nomenclature. I suggest the label “neuriatry” in place of psychiatry because “neuro” gets us away from the stigmatizing term “psyche” while creating a linkage with our sister specialty, neurology.

Stefan Lerner, MDPrivate PracticePrinceton, NJ

I applaud Dr. Nasrallah’s visionary April editorial. One of the biggest obstacles to lifting stigma is the mental-physical categorization. “Mental” is the last slur still commonly used, instantly bringing to mind its synonyms: “crazy,” “looney,” and “nuts.” This term should be extinguished from the psychiatric nomenclature. I suggest the label “neuriatry” in place of psychiatry because “neuro” gets us away from the stigmatizing term “psyche” while creating a linkage with our sister specialty, neurology.

Stefan Lerner, MDPrivate PracticePrinceton, NJ

I applaud Dr. Nasrallah’s visionary April editorial. One of the biggest obstacles to lifting stigma is the mental-physical categorization. “Mental” is the last slur still commonly used, instantly bringing to mind its synonyms: “crazy,” “looney,” and “nuts.” This term should be extinguished from the psychiatric nomenclature. I suggest the label “neuriatry” in place of psychiatry because “neuro” gets us away from the stigmatizing term “psyche” while creating a linkage with our sister specialty, neurology.

Stefan Lerner, MDPrivate PracticePrinceton, NJ