Mad in America
- Synopsis
-
Science journalist Whitaker has updated the 2002 edition of his history of the treatment of mental illness in America from 1750 to the present. The main changes are a new preface and epilogue; his argument remains the same. He concludes that the treatment of schizophrenia has been hit or miss throughout time, with an emphasis not on curing the patients, but controlling them. Particular emphasis is given to the widespread use of antipsychotics that, he states, actually make the patient worse and can cause organ damage that leads to early death. He blames skewed test results sponsored by pharmaceutical companies along with collusion by "academic psychiatrists. " His outrage, while understandable, overwhelms the conclusions he derives from studies indicating that patients treated with traditional long term psychotherapy and given drugs as a secondary, short-term treatment, are more likely to be cured. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
- Copyright:
- 2002
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Publisher Quality
- ISBN-13:
- 9780786723799
- Publisher:
- Perseus
- Date of Addition:
- 09/16/12
- Copyrighted By:
- Robert Whitaker
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
-
English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
-
Nonfiction,
Psychology
- Submitted By:
- Bookshare Staff
- Usage Restrictions:
-
This is a copyrighted book.