A discussion of Sharon Angell’s two-part article from the New York Review of Books, in which she discusses recent volumes by Robert Whitaker, Irving Kirsch and Daniel Carlat addressing the chemical imbalance theory of mental illness, along with the influence of Big Pharma upon the psychiatric profession.
Category: The Medicalization of Mental Health
The Rise of Bipolar Disorder Symptoms and Treatment
Why has Bipolar Disorder, once a fairly rare phenomenon, become so pervasive in our society? This article looks at four influencing factors: (1) improved diagnosis; (2) an enlargement of our conception of the illness; (3) a “vogue” for the label that has led to over-diagnosis; and (4) illicit drug-use and psychiatric medications that have actually increased the incidence of Bipolar Disorder.
“Psychiatric Meds Are Like Insulin for Diabetes” (Big Lie #3)
Contrary to what we have been led to believe, psychiatric medications do not rectify a chemical imbalance in your brain but instead create one; the body then adapts to this imbalance, and when drug use is discontinued, the physical response is akin to withdrawal symptoms.
“Psychiatric Medications Have Led to Dramatic Improvements in Mental Health Outcomes” (Big Lie No. 2)
In the long-term, patients who have never been exposed to psychiatric medication have a much better prognosis than those who were placed on drugs.
“You Have a Chemical Imbalance in Your Brain” (Big Lie No. 1)
There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support the theory that mental illness is a result of an imbalance in brain chemistry.