Posted by JohnL on November 27, 1999, at 6:01:42
In reply to Psychiatric drugs: Poison or panacea?, posted by Ali on November 24, 1999, at 23:55:49
> This may not be at all what people talk about but I am currently reading a book called "Your drug may be your problem" by a Dr. P.Breggin.The essence of this book, and of others he's written, as well as of a whole movement on the internet, seems to be that ALL psychiatric drugs are not only not helpful, they are harmful and should NEVER be used.
"ALL" and "NEVER" are pretty big words. I would think "A FEW" and "IN SOME CASES" would be more realistic.
He (and others) claim that they CAUSE depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, psychosis etc. I used to be a great believer in biological psychiatry but suddenly find my faith rather shaken.
IF PSYchiatric drugs CAUSE depression, then how come thousands upon millions of people get better on them? I haven't read the book, but the basic views of the author in this post are so illogical and biased as to not even deserve a place on the bookshelf. I used to study statistics in college. I learned how statistics can be twisted, manipulated, and discriminately selected to defend any preconceived point of view. And they can be presented in such a way as to SEEM totally convincing. Yet it's like focusing in on a tree, totally oblivious to the fact that that tree is surrounded by a forest. And that most of the other trees in that forest are not like the one be looked at. I'm not sure what the author's agenda is. But it certainly isn't the wellbeing of suffering people. More likely money. Or ego. Or both.
But if the author is correct in his views, then we do indeed (as I think jamie said) have a "worldwide placebo effect" going on. (Laughing out loud) Yeah right!
P.S. Nice job, by the way, Elizabeth and St James...always love reading your posts.
poster:JohnL
thread:15754
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991123/msgs/15819.html