At the Door of the Sausage Factory
Robert Whitaker’s book, Anatomy of an Epidemic, has provoked all manner of responses. Some outraged, dismissive, but many supportive and relieved to hear the...
Anti-Authoritarians and Schizophrenia: Do Rebels Who Defy Treatment Do Better?
Preface: Failing in my efforts to get this article published for the general public, apparently only here can I talk about a “cool subculture...
Are Some Psychiatrists Addicted to Deference?
One of the subtle but underlying factors that keep the great divide active between psychiatry's medical model of human emotional suffering, and the alternative...
Call Me “The Doctor”
I seem to have generated unexpected ire with my biographical information. This deserves more than just a few lines in the reply section. When...
Take a ride on the Mood Elevator
These are not happy times for the embattled drug maker AstraZeneca. The patent for Seroquel has expired; the company’s profits have plummeted; and its...
Economic Determinism and Medicaid
Ok, I’ll admit to trying an academic title to talk about bureaucratic history. What a combination!
But I think it adds up to something. We...
Rethinking Madness: A Book Review
“Rethinking Madness: Towards a Paradigm Shift In Our Understanding and Treatment of Psychosis” by Paris Williams, Ph.D., describes how our current mental health system...
Pandora’s Box
This morning I remind myself to point my eyes forward. I tend to want to re-do the past and try to make bad things...
10 Reasons Survivors Might Know More Medicine Than Psychiatrists
We've been discussing a potential role for psychiatrists on this site, and I wanted some of the doctors to understand why many mental health...
National Peer Certification
Health disparities between the seriously persistent mentally ill (SPMI) population and general population exist which are alarming (MHA, 2008). A report issued by the...
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...
