Is the FDA violating its own mandate to approve safe drugs?
Is the Food and Drug Administration violating its own mandate to approve safe drugs? That was the question that Donald Light, co-author of The...
Jung’s First Dream, The Mad God Dionysus and a Madness Sanctuary called Diabasis
With a loud piercing cry, the bare chested Native American warrior hurled his tomahawk at John Weir Perry with full force. John told me...
It’s Not Going To Get Better Soon
I’ve been thinking a lot about George Saslow since I came south to take a timeout and think. I miss him. A lot. Dr....
Why I don’t do “med checks”
I don't do "med checks". What do I do?
The Pipeline
I’m overwhelmed by the complicated multi-issue medical reform legislation being batted about. I feel hopeless that any such massive reform bill can survive the...
The New York Times Magazine Article on Antidepressants
In the Sunday New York Times Magazine, an article by Siddhartha Mukherjee entitled “Post-Prozac Nation” appeared. I eagerly read this article, wondering what position...
The “I Am Not The Butcher” Speech
On Thursday I had an interaction with a psychologist where I basically said, "I am not sure I want to attend a workshop you...
Life for Psychiatrists after Reading Bob Whitaker: Let’s Take Back Substance Abuse Treatment
An astounding development is the explosion in the numbers of substance abusers being diagnosed with Bipolar. I teach a class in Substance Abuse at...
Troubling Times
These are troubling times for me as a physician and as a psychiatrist. They were even more so before I ran away… excuse me…...
You Are What You Eat – Part 2
There has been much attention in this site to the role of psychiatry and psychiatrists for people who are experiencing mental or emotional distress. One area that I have chosen to focus on with my patients is food since it is a place where I believe I can have a positive impact on their lives.
Guidelines for a Thoughtful Discussion
Back in December, when I decided to turn madinamerica.com into a webzine, I envisioned it as serving several purposes. I wanted to create a...
Developing Policies and Practices for Medication Optimization
Southern Oregon physicians—from family practice specialists to psychiatrists—and nurse practitioners, social workers and other mental health professionals have been meeting for several months to...
Part 2: The Values and Ethics of WRAP
In Part 2: The Values and ethics of WRAP, I describe the Values and eThics that have evolved around the Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
Part 1: The Development of WRAP
I am deeply concerned that so many people reach out for help with mental health challenges and end up getting harsh treatment that is less than helpful and often harmful. I wish more of them knew about WRAP. And I wish that WRAP was a starting place for people on the journey to wellness, something they would be introduced to when they first reach out for help, rather than something they discover after they have experienced a lot of hardship and pain. In this article I have described the development process that we used to develop the Wellness Recovery Action Plan. In Part 2 I will describe the Values and eThics that have evolved around WRAP.
What a new role for psychiatrists might look like
People have been wondering on this site lately if there is still a role for psychiatrists. The short answer is maybe, if they can...
Discipline, Not Drugs
This is how a child gets into the mental health system. At age 3 he pitches a fit in the grocery store because he...
Doctors Need Support
An old friend suggested to me that doctors need support after hearing the messages in Robert Whitaker’s book, “Anatomy of an Epidemic”. I agree....
The Mouse That Roared: CIAD & Friends vs. the State of New York
If you log onto the website of the New York State Office of Mental Health at www.omh.ny.gov, you’ll find out that less than three...
How entrepreneurial thinking can improve mental health advocacy
I've been working on starting a business that can use market forces to create benefit for our communities. This is called social entrepreneurship. Different models...
The Rotted Fruit
In the law if one falsehood is uncovered in sworn testimony, all of the statements made and the actions that follow are suspect. If...
An Opportunity to Walk the Talk — Occupy the American Psychiatric Association May 5th...
On May 5, 2012,  MindFreedom International is holding its Occupy the American Psychiatric Association protest at the APA's annual convention in Philadelphia.  Momentum is building for the...
Madness Radio: Toby Watson on Ethical Psychotherapy
It was a long haul from being a psychiatric patient in 1992 to graduating with a masters in counseling in 2011. I flunked out...
Chapter Twenty-Six: Reaching the End, and Making a Start
A deep blue blanketing of 1AM sky envelops my car as I sit in my parents’ driveway in February 2010, pondering my next, last...
How the “Brain Defect” Theory of Depression Stigmatizes Depression Sufferers
Viewing depression as a “brain defect” rather than a “character defect” is supposed to reduce the stigma of depression, according to the American Psychiatric...
How drug companies continue to hide the true story of Tamiflu and other drugs...
I’ve been reading Dr. David Healy’s new book, Pharmageddon, and while some of it may seem like old news, I was struck by his...
