Inconvenient Truths of Mental Illness

[here today]

I came across this online today:

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/02/inconvenient-truths-of-mental-illness-more-people-take-medication-but-progress-has-stalled_partner/

Interesting article, comments, and links.  I thought some others might enjoy it, too.

[Mary S]

Thanks for the link. Also of interest: http://www.vox.com/2015/12/29/10654056/ben-goldacre-compare-trials. The shenanigans described in it (which result in approving drugs that show no evidence of doing good and may show evidence of doing harm) may be part of the problem described in the link you provided.

[AdamP]

One of the best health books I've read is Robert Whitaker's "Anatomy of an Epidemic".  Exposes the horrors of Pharmageddon and the damaging effects of long term psych drug use.

https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing/dp/0307452425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497142314&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+whitaker

[Sylvester McMonkey McBean]

along a similar theme to the book adam mentioned, but in regards to depression and antidepressants is 'The Emperors New Drug's:Exploding the Antidepressant Myth ' by Irving Kirsch.  definilty an eye opening account into big pharma, clinical drug trials, and the AD industry. it is a must read if one is contemplating, questioning, or doubting taking AD for their depression.

The Emperor's New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth 

[Mary S]

I think Kirsch's book needs to be taken with a grain of salt -- see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/irving-kirsch-phd/antidepressants-the-emper_b_442205.html, where he gives a short version of the book -- and ends by promoting psychotherapy methods for treating depression -- even though the criticisms he gives of clinical trials for drugs also apply to clinical trials for psychotherapy techniques. In fact, the latter are even more problematical for at least three reasons: 1) There is no way that the treating therapist can be "blinded" to the treatment; 2) often the treating therapist is the one who does the evaluation of the effectiveness (so think how (1) and (2) might interact); 3) there is no agency such as the US FDA or the European Medicines Agency that enforces even minimal standards for clinical trials of therapy methods.

[AdamP]

I've heard good things about the Kirsch book.  It's true that anyone in the therapy biz has somewhat of a conflict of interest when it comes to going after drugs.  Seems therapists/psychologists and psychiatrists are always feuding, and competing for customers.

One thing about Whitaker, is that is he is a journalist and so has no direct stake in the "game".

There's also Peter Breggin and David Healy.