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LibraryThing member boppie
ABSOLUTE MUST-READ if you or anyone in your family takes or has been prescribed antidepressants, anti-psychotics, or anti-anxiety medication. Big Pharma and the American Psychiatric Association have colluded (with malign neglect from the FDA) to CAUSE an epidemic - no, pandemic - of mental illness
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in our country over the last 50 years all in the name of their own profit, and prestige, respectively. I am one of the people on whose backs this has been done, and I am stunned at the evidence that the author found that was suppressed - and that the FDA allowed to be suppressed - that proves that all these medications that we've been taking as adults ARE MAKING US MORE DEPRESSED, AND LESS ABLE, LESS RESILIENT, and CHANGING THE SHAPES OF OUR BRAINS. They are not CURES - they are short-term masks of symptoms, and long-term illness creators. And now they are prescribing this CRAP to children as young as TWO because doctors, conveniently in the pay of Big Pharma as 'thought leaders', are changing the parameters of disease diagnoses to increase the potential consumer base. READ THIS BOOK, and GIVE IT TO EVERY PARENT YOU KNOW. Show Less
LibraryThing member satyridae
An entirely damning look at the psychiatric profession, Big Pharma, NIMH and the epidemic of mental illness the combination has caused. Whitaker looks at rates of diagnosis of such currently common maladies as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and ADHD. He cites statistic after statistic
The way the brain reacts to the medicines discussed here is fascinating. Though fascinating seems a callous word to use in this case, inasmuch as the drugs seem to be doing damage that may never be able to be undone.
I expect Big Pharma to lie and manipulate and be generally evil. Frankly, I don't expect much more of psychiatry as a whole. But reading this and examining the data made me so sad and so angry and (dare I say it) so depressed.
I'll leave you with a quote from The Lancet dated 2004:
"The story of research into selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in childhood depression is one of confusion, manipulation, and institutional failure."
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showing how much better off most of the mentally ill are without medication, and in a terrifying chapter, focuses on what anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and ADHD drugs appear to be doing to the long-term mental health of our kids.The way the brain reacts to the medicines discussed here is fascinating. Though fascinating seems a callous word to use in this case, inasmuch as the drugs seem to be doing damage that may never be able to be undone.
I expect Big Pharma to lie and manipulate and be generally evil. Frankly, I don't expect much more of psychiatry as a whole. But reading this and examining the data made me so sad and so angry and (dare I say it) so depressed.
I'll leave you with a quote from The Lancet dated 2004:
"The story of research into selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in childhood depression is one of confusion, manipulation, and institutional failure."
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LibraryThing member Darcia
Lately there has been a lot of talk here in the U.S. about our broken Social Security system. Media and certain members of government are quick to blame the problem on our rising number of senior citizens. No one has publicly addressed the very real issue that is weighing down our system, which is
The information here is fascinating, stunning, and, at times, terrifying. While I wouldn't call this an 'easy' read, the writing style is conversational and engaging. You don't need a background in psychology to understand the facts.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly parents who are contemplating medications for their children.
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the incredible amount of children and adults under 65 who are now on SSI or SSDI due to anxiety and depression. This is a recent phenomenon, and one of many Whitaker addresses in this book.The information here is fascinating, stunning, and, at times, terrifying. While I wouldn't call this an 'easy' read, the writing style is conversational and engaging. You don't need a background in psychology to understand the facts.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly parents who are contemplating medications for their children.
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LibraryThing member VickiFoxSmith
An excellent and very readable book on the relationship between the way psychiatric drugs are used in North America and increases in mental health related disability.
LibraryThing member amaraduende
Many of things I thought I knew about mental illness and drugs are apparently not true. For instance, depressed people do not have lower level of seratonin than the average population. Long term use of many drugs deteriorates a lot of structures in the brain. I feel like I should do more research
I had to return this book to the library because it had holds. I think I want to find some others on the same subject. Written by scientists, I would prefer. The journalistic tone was a little much for me (one woman who gained 30lbs while on medication "blimped up"... seriously?) I'm also curious what scientists have to say about these issues. Not cherry picked for this book scientists, but scientists writing about their own findings.
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on these topics, although Whitaker quotes manymanymany sources, there are obviously a lot of folks who disagree with his findings/opinions. He's also a journalist, not a scientist. Lots of stuff to think about, though. I had to return this book to the library because it had holds. I think I want to find some others on the same subject. Written by scientists, I would prefer. The journalistic tone was a little much for me (one woman who gained 30lbs while on medication "blimped up"... seriously?) I'm also curious what scientists have to say about these issues. Not cherry picked for this book scientists, but scientists writing about their own findings.
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LibraryThing member VickiFoxSmith
An excellent and very readable book on the relationship between the way psychiatric drugs are used in North America and increases in mental health related disability.
LibraryThing member St.CroixSue
This book is a disturbing expose of psychopharmaceuticals, the biological basis of mental illness, and the historical background of treatments and their efficacy or lack thereof. The author’s critique leans very much toward non-medicating mental illness (or at least short term medication) of
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everything from schizophrenia to depression, but he supplies compelling arguments and substantial scientific literature to back up this stand. The worst cases that he brings up are very frightening, and depressing. Show Less
LibraryThing member csweder
This book we incredibly interesting, and incredibly terrifying. I have mixed feelings--on the one hand I did think before I read this book that medication could be good for people. But I also thought that some diagnoses are being giving too frequently and that perhaps there is some misuse of
The entire premise of this book, however, is that the mess not only don't help patients, it actually makes them worse! It INCREASES the chances of relapse and increases likelihood of brain damage. It is really terrifying.
Why don't we know about this you ask? Simple: money. The pharmaceutical companies pay good money to doctors, psychiatrists, professors, for this information not to gt out, and for the message that these meds in fact help and are the only answer.
It's sickening. Heartbreaking. The book repeatedly comes back to the issue that many of these medicated people are now on disability, being physically unable to work now.
The only thing keeping this book from four stars was the little voice in my head asking me to be critical of everything I read--including this authors conclusions. There were many instances where the author's conclusion isn't the only possible one, where it was obvious a quote was taken out of context, or just where he might have been trying to make the numbers sound more impressive, rather than really trying to do a strict comparison. Of course, he is trying to get a point across and to be persuasive. I just have a few doubts on some of his claims. Overall I agree with the premise: we need to medicate less.
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medications.The entire premise of this book, however, is that the mess not only don't help patients, it actually makes them worse! It INCREASES the chances of relapse and increases likelihood of brain damage. It is really terrifying.
Why don't we know about this you ask? Simple: money. The pharmaceutical companies pay good money to doctors, psychiatrists, professors, for this information not to gt out, and for the message that these meds in fact help and are the only answer.
It's sickening. Heartbreaking. The book repeatedly comes back to the issue that many of these medicated people are now on disability, being physically unable to work now.
The only thing keeping this book from four stars was the little voice in my head asking me to be critical of everything I read--including this authors conclusions. There were many instances where the author's conclusion isn't the only possible one, where it was obvious a quote was taken out of context, or just where he might have been trying to make the numbers sound more impressive, rather than really trying to do a strict comparison. Of course, he is trying to get a point across and to be persuasive. I just have a few doubts on some of his claims. Overall I agree with the premise: we need to medicate less.
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LibraryThing member statmonkey
Consider this a must read for all those interested in Psychology, have anyone who they care for who is on meds or lives in America. Really, this book scratches the surface but if you really want to know why American Society is falling apart and why mass shootings happen, why there are so many
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unstable individuals on the streets and why things are breaking down this book reveals a great deal. Agree that it is more of an argument than an unemotional account. To me Whitaker seems angry and after reading this you will understand why. Again, highly recommended eye-opener. Show Less
LibraryThing member squirmworm
Not sure what to think about his book, because I do believe a lot of people are over diagnosed and put on these drugs who don't need it for profits but think there are a few people who really have mental illness that need the drugs or something to stabilized them.
Coming from a family, full of
Coming from a family, full of
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schizophrenics and autism I don't know what to think. I am the only one taking medications and I was doing worse off them, now I am doing better and putting my life together. The other family members with schizophrenia are doing badly and don't like any psychiatry at all and would agree totally with this book. When my other family members tried the drugs they seemed to be more stable, but no one takes medications except me, and the rest are going nuts. Show Less
LibraryThing member b.masonjudy
This book is really a must-read for anyone who's been affected by the use of psychopharmacology, which as Whitaker points out, is more and more of the American population. I took umbrage with some of his characterizations of people, particularly in relation to how attractive they are or measuring
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their health based on their body weight. These rejoinders aside this analysis is compelling and he wades through what could be considered boring or obtuse material with rigor and clarity. Show Less
Publication
New York : Crown Publishers, c2010.
Description
Presents a controversial assessment of the rise in mental illness-related disabilities and considers if drug-based care may be fueling illness rates throughout the past half century.
Awards
IRE Awards (Winner — Book — 2010)