The Dark Side of Psychiatry

[Kire]

In this page you'll find links to articles and critical documents on biological-psychiatry. Biological-psychiatry's official theory describes psychological or personal problems as having a biological origin caused by genetic or chemical 'imbalances' to be corrected by drugs and other interventions like Electro-Convulsive Therapy or insulin shock. These widely used but controversial methods in official medicine have been for many years amply invalidated, showing clearly that they are absolutely unscientific, that they tend to alienate patient's rights, are unable to solve the problems presented, are dangerous for one's health, and are submissive to pharmaceutical companies. The need for a drastic reduction in the power of the medical-chemical-industrial lobby is an important task to ensure that all people have the right to positive mental health, and to re-direct science's energies towards therapeutic practices which are focused upon the social and familial systems which are generating the personal suffering, instead of upon erroneous and misguided efforts to eliminate symptoms of social distress generated in individuals.

http://www.oikos.org/antipsicen.htm

Articles & Comments:
http://www.oikos.org/antipsicen.htm#Articles

The Politics of Madness:
http://www.oikos.org/antipsicen.htm

Links
http://www.oikos.org/antipsicen.htm

[Droopy]

1. I wonder what they'd have to say about me

Normal kid, normal childhood, socially adjusted. Schizoaffective disorder at 20. Lived eleven years without treatment. Life was hell. Nearly killed myself.

At age 31 psychiatric meds were introduced. Now I feel like I did before I became ill. I live on my own. I have a full time job. Everything is groovy. But I guess it was all just social distress and I should stop taking my medication now. Yup, I'm a straight white guy and you know how hard society is on us.

But don't pay any attention to that. I'm probably a part of a plot to get everybody to take medication. I might actually be here to promote the use of psychiatric medication. I could be getting paid by the psychiatric companies to help spread propaganda about their medications. I was actually accused of that bullshit.

[Kire]

2. u ok?

[Droopy]

3. I'm fine

But I'd be better if I hadn't clicked on this thread.

[DemExpat]

4. I think that most of the concern is about pushing drugs for any/ most

depressive and anxiety states, NOT bonafide use for people like you, Droopy.
The argument is about the widespread usage which might mask social/relational problems - also with so many kids - and not give lasting relief, and distrust of the power of the pharmaceutical companies. IMO.

I would not see this position as personally aimed at me if I had your history and your very positive results from meds.

Thank heavens for medications for your illness!

:hug:

DemEx

[DemExpat]

5. Besides...the title "The Dark Side of Psychiatry"

implies its opposite "The Light Side of Psychiatry", which certainly exists.

DemEx

[Droopy]

7. If that's what they mean

then they should make that clear in their statement. It sounds to me as if they are calling all people dumbasses and liars who say that some mental illnesses are biological in origin. There is no social or familial explanations for what happened to me. I'm sure that some mental illnesses are due to abusive family members and poor social adjustment. But to say that they all are is just ignorant.

I didn't read any of the articles on the sight because the opening statement just seemed so anti-psychiatry that I figured the articles were more of the same.

[DemExpat]

8. Agree that the debate on this can be upsetting to people on both sides....

but I still think the debate, and each viewpoint along the full spectrum, is worth looking closely at.

I'm sure that some mental illnesses are due to abusive family members and poor social adjustment. But to say that they all are is just ignorant.

Those that are wary of the medical world putting emphasis on biology and medications in so many mental health issues think that this viewpoint is also one of ignorance. (Or some would say of corporate power)

As long as we respect people's individual histories and choices, I see nothing wrong with looking at all viewpoints on this topic. :shrug:

Posting an article on mandatory mental health screening in schools gets me very upset, articles advocating more meds for more people experiencing anxiety and depression upset me too...just saying...... the debate is touchy (and personal) for ALL of us with our experiences.

What I intensely dislike is the attitude of both sides of the debate who say that ALL (or most) cases are biological, or ALL (or most) cases are emotional/socially caused, etc.
I go for the individual assessment, case by case, and the freedom to pursue this path.

I believe that mental health is a holistic issue - balance/imbalance involving biology, psychology, mentality, social influences, and spirituality.
In some people the physical body imbalance is prominent, in others social adjustment/psycholgical imbalances, in others spiritual issues....in some a mixture of them all.....

So I resent and find offensive the viewpoint that my mental health suffering (and good and bad experiences with psychiatry and medications) is purely biological....!
I really "am" much more than my physical processes - but that is just my belief.


For now, I believe that meds can offer fantastic help to some people, but certainly not all, and in most cases of anxiety and depression I believe it is wrong to immediately prescribe meds for life and relational problems! Especially in so very many young children. It doesn't even have to be the "fault" of the parents, but the state of society, schools, lifestyles and culture in which we live that might cause/have influence on much of this mental suffering.

Our problem here in this group (as I see it) with this debate is that we cannot (understandably!) read the other viewpoint without feeling it as a personal attack on our choices and beliefs. Maybe we can try to see it more objectively and be open to both sides and everybody's unique experiences.


Just my 2 cents on this, to me, interesting subject, but maybe others here do not find it as fascinating?

Must be the Social Scientist in me as I am in the middle of my Social Science Degree in Human Geography! :kick:

:hi:

DemEx

[Droopy]

9. Regarding your call to see the other side of the issue

I would be much more open to that if people wouldn't tell me that I am perpetuating a fraud by taking medication. I would be a lot more open to that if people didn't try to invalidate what I know to be true. It's like telling a lesbian that all she needs is a good man. The web site that this thread is about states that all mental illnesses are a result of conditioning and societal pressures. I'm walking proof that that isn't true. So that coupled with the insulting message that psychiatry is just pseudoscience leads me to discount this point of view. If they had said that some mental illnesses are the result of conditioning and societal pressures and that for a lot of those folks medication is not necessary then I would be open to that point of view.

[DemExpat]

12. Sorry you feel offended, Droopy,

If they had said that some mental illnesses are the result of conditioning and societal pressures and that for a lot of those folks medication is not necessary then I would be open to that point of view.

This is to me the crux of their message on that site, and they are focussed on this side of the picture, not the successes, which, to make the message more palatable to those who find great relief thru medication, should be added to the opening statement as a caveat IMO.

It is too bad that the wording does not make this very clear. :-(

All imho....


:hi:
DemEx

[mopinko]

6. this statement is pure hogwash

"amply invalidated, showing clearly that they are absolutely unscientific"

and i take this one-"therapeutic practices which are focused upon the social and familial systems which are generating the personal suffering,"
as a personal insult. when my daughter is not medicated, she is certain that i am the root of all evil in the universe, and that she is a stupid, worthless person. when she takes her meds, i am her beloved mom, and she is A straight a student, who can't wait to get to college. to blame the families of mentally ill people for their loved ones suffering is cruel beyond belief.
i certainly agree that there is much wrong with psycho-pharmacology. but to deny that mental illness has a biological basis is not only baseless, but really, really dangerous. i seriously doubt that anyone in this forum is interested in this crap.

[NMMNG]

10. I have to agree with Droopy and mopinko

This seems to be an attempt to broadly discredit biological psychiatry and the use of medications when in fact medications have been proven therapeutic over decades. Great benefits have been obtained for thousands through the use of psychotropic medications.

*BTW, there appear to be four links posted, but they all bring up the same website.


Now do I contend that overdiagnosis of some disorders, over-prescribing of medications and mis-management of patient care are not concerns? No.

Am I concerned about Shrubbie's plan for mass mental health screenings? Yes.

However that does not denote a blanket condemnation of any area of mental health practice. Strengths and weaknesses will always exist in any treatment mode, and it is the duty of practitioners and others to identify and eradicate the weaknesses.

That, of course, takes time.

[DemExpat]

11. I totally agree with you on this statement....

Great benefits have been obtained for thousands through the use of psychotropic medications.

Millions, not thousands, are helped with medication, but the number of prescriptions for psychotropic meds is staggering and in the hundreds of millions, and growing.
http://www.namiscc.org/News/2003/Winter/PharmaceuticalStatistics.htm

The fraud they are talking about in one article is the drug lobby's and medical professions' cooperation and deals, not that people are supporting fraud by taking meds which make them healthy and sane!

This site's viewpoint concerns the more prevalent labelling of personal/psychological problems as chemical imbalances of mental illness treatable with meds....
And thereby depriving people of their freedom to choose other means/approaches to deal with their problems.

As long as those of us here who NEED and receive satisfying treatment/medication do not see addressing these dangers as an affront to their condition and choice of treatment.
I do not see where this site invalidates those positive experiences.

That is the problem with discussions on this issue - that there are so many gradations of mental illness and suffering, and that we ALL here (in this Group!) have our personal stories and experiences.



The site's opening statement:

In this page you'll find links to articles and critical documents on biological-psychiatry. Biological-psychiatry's official theory describes psychological or personal problems as having a biological origin caused by genetic or chemical 'imbalances' to be corrected by drugs and other interventions like Electro-Convulsive Therapy or insulin shock. These widely used but controversial methods in official medicine have been for many years amply invalidated, showing clearly that they are absolutely unscientific, that they tend to alienate patient's rights, are unable to solve the problems presented, are dangerous for one's health, and are submissive to pharmaceutical companies. The need for a drastic reduction in the power of the medical-chemical-industrial lobby is an important task to ensure that all people have the right to positive mental health, and to re-direct science's energies towards therapeutic practices which are focused upon the social and familial systems which are generating the personal suffering, instead of upon erroneous and misguided efforts to eliminate symptoms of social distress generated in individuals.

Do most of you here agree or disagree with this?

:hi:

DemEx

[Lorien]

13. I agree with Buffythefundieslayer

chemical imbalances are a reality, and no amount of talk therapy or biofeedback will eliminate an imbalance which causes low seritonin levels or hormonal problems (my PMS was never caused by an unfortunate upbringing). I have no less than SEVEN psychologists in my family and I studied psychology in college, so obviously I do give some merit to non-pharmaceutical treatments.That said, I do think that big pharma has a stranglehold on the mental health industry; while Wellbutrin took the edge off for me, only cranial electrotherapy has really offered me relief-and it's something that the medical-chemical-industrial lobby never wanted me to know about because of the potential harm to their profits.Corporate lobbyists have indeed shaped society's beliefs about everything from mental health to global warming to our groceries, and we need to explore the options for ourselves before putting too much stock in "conventional wisdom".

[mopinko]

14. too deep a subject to paint in black and white.

especially when you are talking to such a vulnerable population, oy. i agree with a lot of the sentiment. but when i look at this from the standpoint of what would happen if my bp 18 year old daughter read and swallowed everything here, i break out in a cold sweat. i can see this feeding misery on so many levels.
and fwiw, this does not really describe most of our experience. some, but not most.
i do agree that corporate america is a out of control. big pharma is only one industry that is running amuck.

[DemExpat]

15. That is exactly right, mopinko, mental health cannot be

painted in black and white terms.

This is what pharmaceutical companies and their studies, along with those in the medical world who are supporting them, and George Bush's policy, also want to do IMO.

And this is what the above linked site and articles are trying to fight.
(perhaps they could nuance their message some, I grant you that...:-))

As for all of us taking these discussions personally here in this Group, well, of course we all do.
I get very uneasy with talk of mandatory testing of all children, when I see the statistics of all the psychopharmaceuticals being prescribed in the US today, when I remember my years of medication with initial relief but further along debilitating addiction and worsening mental health to the point of being suicidal....on medication under close psychiatric care... :-(...so we all react emotionally to this discussion, but the discussion itself I find very interesting, vital, and something we should not supress.

Vulnerable is right, from whichever viewpoint you uphold.

Because I have little to no expectation that changes in this corporate domination linked to some professionals of mental health care in general will be initiated from within the profession itself.

Protest, challenge, and questioning, as well as validation and support of meds, will have to come from mental health care users like us, along with any others interested in long-term health of people individually and as a society.

IMHO.

:hi:

DemEx

[undergroundpanther]

16. Shades of Grey

My main issue with psych is not meds or not meds.
Biological problems have no real physical proof,and talk therapy has not had perfect results either.

Mental illness is very individualized it is an individual biological cultural,civilization, social,environmental, huge huge problem.

If medicines help use them. If they don't don't use them freedom is the right to say yes AND to say no.


Domination power trips forcing treatment and coercion,and totalistic environments in hospitals that just are too tempting for sociopaths,that needs to be looked at.Psychiatry can abuse it's power, Big Pharmacy is a powerful not always honest lobby. The new meds coming out are not tested as rigorously as the old meds were.And this little matter of tort reform makes it harder to sue a company if they hurt you with bad medicine and a doctor gives into the pressures from big pharma..


The profit and power and social control interests and elements in psychiatry taint it's effectiveness in helping people find a comfortable state of mind.


Also remember the unspoken side of a market that manufactures demand from people that already have enough (cultures like ours)..Making people feel misery makes mo' money for the rich. Misery makes the market move.

Happy satisfied people who are not defensive or insecure don't run out to buy stuff they don't really want to fill empty holes inside,or go blow money to fill up a social calendar,or buy shit impress peers or to do any other sorts of consumer tailored psychological soothing the market is all so eager to sell


Like for instance the market sells us one thing toothpaste,but it promises something else( like buying said products buy happiness or acceptance)...
Commecials are stupid to us as adults,to our consious mind,But kids and the unconsious mind have no suych filter system,... Messages go in..whaere do they go??


Commercials imply...insulting things about us personally so they canm sell us a "fix"..Years and years of this does have an effect.

Like ..
Just by using a Tooth whitener gel ,it will make people notice you and like you more than any others... even though your a drag at every party and you look like witch hazel..You can smile without shame, those teeth will dazzle them and blid them to the wart you are,..and they'll think you are a movie star!

or if you use whatever shampoo body wash it will make you irresistible, and you will get laid today, you smell like a chemical rainforest with that horrid normal body odor and you own natural pheremone gone..

Buy this security service for 100 bucks a month and no one will break into your house, never mind you live next to a drug dealer and can't afford to move out and a bullet isn't covered by a infrared detection call in system.. the strong looking shield superhero guy has gotcha back even tho no one else cares.)

or use 100 calorie pudding cups, 100 calories for the counters,who watch every molecule lest they get fat.. are deemed by a thin chick that you are not to be a "calorie safe zone"..So safe it will bring back old childhood pleasures..like of eating food without shame or paranoia ..almost like being a little girl when no one cared you ate tasty pudding ..back when the idea of a little fat on your legs was not so evil and scary to you).


People that are happy in themselves satisfied with themselves,are not profitable because they do not look for quick fix pills every blue day,they don't succumb to diet fads,because they accept themselves,they don't buy cars to show up Joe,because of hidden penile anxieties,Nor do they don't get addicted to booze,gambling,business day trading, or food or chaos....taking medicines or going to talk therapy...

[NMMNG]

17. Shades

You bring up a very important point about the ill effects of advertising on the American psyche. This could also be extended to the media in general.

We are barraged with images that tell us we need to be sucessful, beautiful, popular, loved..., etc. How do we do this? We wear the 'right' clothing, shoes, makeup, cologne and jewelry. We have the 'right' hairstyle and color. We associate with the 'right' people. Every advertisement promises they have just the thing to assist us in feeling better, looking better, smelling better and doing better.

And more and more, the push is for it all to happen faster and last longer. Advil liqui-gels work faster than any tablets do! Two Aleve work as good as 8 Tylenol! In a world where things are increasingly expected to be instantaneous is it any wonder that people get disillusioned when they actually have to wait for something?

What we don't see often enough is reality. The reality is: No matter how beautiful/successful/rich you are you may not find Mr/Ms right. Posessions don't make you happy, they just make your house cluttered and your bank account empty. And there is no 'magic pill' or 'magic bullet'--be it a medication, therapy, religion or what not. If anybody promises that, run.

Off soapbox.