Posted by Penny on February 17, 2004, at 8:49:37
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good book?, posted by SDA on February 16, 2004, at 19:21:50
> In the original thread in psychobabble, I mentioned www.breggin.com. What do you think of Peter Breggin's books?
Personally, I think Breggin's books read like a poorly constructed philosophical argument. In his books he refers a lot to "them" and "they", yet he fails to say who "them" and "they" are. For example, he will state a lot of questionable 'facts' and quote research by unknown researchers - he doesn't have the evidence to back up what he says is evidence that psych meds don't work. He expects readers to take his words on blind faith that he is correct and the majority of the psychiatric world is wrong.
And, maybe it's just me, but I don't see psych meds as being all good or all bad, and I know FOR A FACT from my own experience that FOR ME they have been helpful, though it took finding a competent and knowledgable pdoc to get the right combo.
Anyway - personally, I think Breggin uses scare tactics and not a lot of real factual evidence, and misinterprets what facts he does have, to frighten people away from psych meds, and I, personally, think that it's fine to read what he has to say, as long as his side isn't the only side you're getting info from. I have quoted him in college papers - as one side of the story - and have found a great deal more evidence to contradict his theories. So, either he truly is an anomaly and one of the few who knows 'the truth', or he is one of the few who thinks he knows the truth and is in actuality wrong. IMO - he's wrong. Doesn't know what he's talking about. Has never experienced mental illness from the inside. And is entitled to write and say what he wants about it all. But I recommend you take what he says with a grain of salt.
poster:Penny
thread:314250
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20040211/msgs/314556.html