•  503
    Externality in Psychiatry and the Paradox of Agency
    Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 11 (4): 313-321. 2004.
    Within common mental health treatments there exists a paradox, in which personal agency over a problem appears to increase by disownership of the problem. I endeavor to explain this paradox and by doing so, shed light on the relationships among identity, psychopathology, and therapeutic agency. The work of the philosopher Harry Frankfurt, with emphasis on his concept of externality, is used as the model for unraveling the paradox of agency.
  •  31
    Surrender Versus Control: How Best Not to Drink
    Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 13 (3): 223-226. 2006.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:Surrender Versus Control:How Best Not to DrinkMark D. Rego (bio)Keywordsaddiction, Alcoholics Anonymous, will, St. AugustineI recall as a teenager noticing that some people modified nouns in, what sounded to me, a peculiar way. A friend's mother who was taking an automotive repair course said, " We're going to learn to fix the brakes next week." The same folks would also use the possessive for common nouns in phrases like: "I'll be r…Read more
  •  23
    Subjective Knowledge, Mental Disorders, and Meds: How to Parse the Equation
    Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 17 (1): 57-60. 2010.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:Subjective Knowledge, Mental Disorders, and MedsHow to Parse the EquationMark D. Rego (bio)Keywordspsychopathology, antidepressants, suicidality, subjective experience, pre-reflectiveA few weeks, ago I was walking down the hall to my office when I spotted my brother-in-law coming the other way. This was odd on two accounts. First, he lives in Kentucky (I am in Connecticut) and second, he is at least a foot taller than the man in my h…Read more
  •  8
    In, Out Me, You Mental, Moral Where Do I Begin?
    Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 11 (4): 331-334. 2004.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:In, Out Me, You Mental, Moral Where Do I Begin?Mark D. Rego (bio)I once attended a Buddhist meditation retreat, led by an American meditation teacher. The instructor had studied and practiced is Asia for many years and was well versed in the practices and teachings of Buddhism. Among his opening remarks was something along the line of the following: "One question that is asked on every retreat is, 'if there is no true self, then who …Read more