Blogs

Essays by a diverse group of writers, in the United States and abroad, engaged in rethinking psychiatry. (The directory of personal stories can be found here, and initiatives here).

Awais Aftab Responds to the STAR*D Scandal . . . And Digs a New Hole...

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The STAR*D scandal is about how psychiatry peddled a fabricated result to the public, and now Aftab, in his latest post, has added a whopper of his own to the STAR*D story.

Remembrances of Linda Andre, Leader in the Fight Against ECT

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Psychiatric survivors and allies mourn ECT activist and author Linda Andre and vow to continue her legacy.

Inside the Neuroscience Community: Peter Sterling Responds to Awais Aftab

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Dr. Aftab objects to my "tirade against psychiatric neuroscience." What Dr. Aftab does not do is address any of my substantive conclusions.

Giving Caregivers a Platform: Chandra, Mother of Sophia

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This is the story of Chandra and her daughter Sophia (not their real names), who has been in the mental health system since the age of 10.
Illustration: Birds on lines organizing into the shape of a bar graph

Report on Improving Mental Health Outcomes

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The report is intended to be used to advocate for the elimination of unwanted psychiatric interventions and to promote humane, effective, voluntary approaches.
A History of Fatigue

Book Review: A History of Fatigue from the Middle Ages to the Present

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Fatigue has always been in the background, infiltrating everywhere, ruling our choices and life paths—and the pharmaceutical industry has taken advantage.
brain

Too Good to Be True: How TMS Damaged My Brain

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TMS not only has not improved my mental health, but also has robbed me of some of the most important things in life. There has been little to no research on or awareness around the negative side effects that TMS can inflict. This must change.
Vector illustration of psychologist and client

Critical Psychiatry Textbook, Chapter 14: Psychotherapy and the Role of Psychologists

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Peter Gøtzsche discusses how the textbooks barely mention the role of psychotherapy and therapists, instead focusing almost entirely on pharmacotherapy.
Data filter vector illustration. Flat tiny information selection persons concept. Technological artificial intelligence cloud storage content analysis management for digital file collection system.

What the RADAR Trial Tells Us About Antipsychotic Reduction and Discontinuation

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Although the trial showed that you are more likely to relapse if you stop or significantly reduce your antipsychotic medication, it did not show that relapse is inevitable.
A questionnaire reads "Eating disorder: Are you at risk?" The options are checkboxes for "Yes" and "No."

The New DSM Is Coming and That Isn’t Good News

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Binge Eating Disorder is one of many invalid diagnoses we’ll continue to receive as a result of the APA’s failure to correct the mistakes of past versions of the DSM.
neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is Not For Everyone: The Dangers of Neurology

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One thing I noticed, from the moment that I stepped out of my psychiatrist’s office, was how strangely blank and yet clear my mind was. I felt surprisingly calm and relaxed, and I decided to go back for another treatment the next week. What I couldn’t have known then was that after that next “treatment,” life would be completely destroyed for me.

Update on Retracting the Fraudulent STAR*D Results

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Ed Pigott calls for retraction of 2006 STAR*D article in American Journal of Psychiatry.
David Foster Wallace

David Foster Wallace: Suicide and the Death of Agency

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Today is the 10th anniversary of David Foster Wallace’s suicide. While it’s not fair to build an entire theory on an incredibly complicated issue like suicide around one person, Wallace’s death should challenge the common narratives around suicide — that “mental illness” causes it and that “we can’t ever know why people do it.” Both of these are self-serving platitudes that are simply not true.

Catherine’s Story: A Child Lost to Psychiatry 

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A year ago today, our youngest child died, thanks to the adversarial actions and toxic treatments foisted on her by medical-model psychiatry. By telling her story, we hope to promote systemic change.
child looking at smartphone

“Virtual Autism” May Explain Explosive Rise in ASD Diagnoses

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New clinical case studies have found that many young children who spend too much screen time—on TV’s, video games, tablets and computers—have symptoms labeled as “autism.” When parents take away the screens for a few months the child’s symptoms disappear.
Creative collage portrait of mini black white gamma astonished girl touch huge arm palm isolated on drawing background.

Why I Resigned from Mental Health America

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When MHA lobbied for expanding forced treatment, I could no longer allow myself to be a cog in the oppressive, profit-driven, psych industry wheel.
One green gamepiece facing many black gamepieces

How and Why Neurotypicals Misunderstand and Mistreat Autistic People

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Commonly used autism interventions, such as ABA, have been found to be both ineffective and abusive, inflicting trauma on those subjected to them.

Why Anti-Authoritarians Are Diagnosed as Mentally Ill

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(Note: Read Bruce Levine's latest post: Anti-Authoritarians and Schizophrenia: Do Rebels Who Defy Treatment Do Better? In my career as a psychologist, I have talked with...

Beyond Benzos: Jordan B. Peterson’s Trip to Hell and Back

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I am thankful "Beyond Order" exists; if only because it serves as a cautionary tale for anyone looking to modify their mood using psychiatry’s plethora of pills.

Comments by Shock Survivors and Their Loved Ones

The #FDAStopTheShockDevice petition has received over 2,200 signatures and 800+ comments. A more thorough analysis of those comments is forthcoming, however, we wanted to offer a glimpse of what people shared. The sixth, seventh, and eighth most common words used in the comments submitted through the petition were "damage," "barbaric" and "torture." We must continue the fight to make sure that the FDA hears the people who will be adversely affected by the proposed rule if it becomes an order. There is still a small window of time for you to sign the petition and leave a comment to the FDA.

Medication Overload, Part I: A Mountain of Drugs in America’s Cabinets

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The 25th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day takes place on Saturday, October 28—and this time around, I’ll be there. The upcoming event will provide...

Can Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Hurt You?

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What I was able to learn about the injury inflicted by TMS and the culture surrounding it is an incredible insight into the treatment itself and the nature of the medical model in its current form.
Person behind bars, female hands gripping steel bars, concept of captivity and imprisonment, retro toned, selective focus

Critical Psychiatry Textbook, Chapter 13: Forced Treatment

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Peter Gøtzsche discusses the way psychiatry violates international ethics laws by engaging in forced treatment and other abuses.
A selective focus shot of garbage collectors, trash cans, and giant pills

Cochrane Reviews of Psychiatric Drugs Are Untrustworthy

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Cochrane is keen to protect guild interests and to comply with official views from governments even when they contradict the evidence in Cochrane reviews.

What’s Eating Oregon? Peer Respites, The Lund Report & Beyond

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Peer respites are a precious resource that deserve protection, and implementation that prioritizes the full vision of the model and prevents co-optation.