[From Times >>>] Madam, – The article by Carl O’Brien, “A cure worse than the illness?” (HEALTHplus, February 22nd) asks urgent questions of psychiatry and I would like to answer them.
There is no evidence that psychiatric drugs are fuelling an epidemic of mental illness. Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic, states that there is a question to be asked about the association between increased use of psychiatric drugs and increased disability from mental illness, but clearly states there is no evidence that the use of drugs has caused any increase is mental illness. He quotes from World Health Organisation studies which appeared to show that outcomes from schizophrenia were better in low- and middle-income countries, where just a small percentage of people were on medication. In fact, recent reviews in the psychiatric literature show that claims of better outcomes in poorer countries have been overstated, and the best indicator of good outcome for schizophrenia is ensuring early intervention, which reduces the duration of untreated psychosis.
Similarly, Mr Whitaker quotes work in Western Lapland where there are good outcomes, and there is a low use of medication. The work in Lapland, known as Open Dialogue, uses a partnership approach between patient and family and treating mental health team. The good outcomes are believed to be associated with the fact that problems are identified early, and treatment can be introduced early, before the person develops associated disabilities.
Carl O’Brien is correct in stating that the medical model of care does not work. Today this is well accepted in psychiatry. A combination of biological, psychological and social interventions is needed to enable the person with mental illness reach recovery. The government policy document for mental health A Vision for Change recommends that mental health services be delivered by fully resourced multidisciplinary teams, to include psychology, social work, occupational therapy as well as nursing and medical input. A collaborative, partnership approach, similar to Open Dialogue, is recommended. The College of Psychiatry fully supports the introduction of this approach throughout the country.
Unfortunately the government up to now has not funded the full introduction of A Vision for Change.
There is good evidence to show that many people benefit enormously from taking psychiatric drugs, when they are used as one part of a treatment package. People who have experience of serious mental illnesses do recover and lead fulfilling lives in the community, and for many that recovery is due to medication. People have a better outcome the earlier they are treated. What individuals with mental health problems need are well-resourced services and access to interventions, including medications, which have been well researched and proven to be effective. – Yours, etc,
Dr ANNE JEFFERS, Director, External Affairs Policy, College of Psychiatry of Ireland
There is an abundance of prima facie historical evidence to show that the widespread use of medication as a valid tool to repression of emotional and psychological symptoms of distress and violation in their patients, by doctors and psychiatrists,is part and parcel to the state’s and church’s policies repressive practices, and surely, as such, will be exposed sooner or later as its chief means of mind/body/spirit control.
The cultural addiction to intoxication as a way of dealing with this spiritual emergency, is an inevitable expression of the loss of soul, self betrayal of a society, sick in itself and in the modern idiom, more sickened by its doctors.
Fortunately there are good doctors yet who fully understand this, daily suffer its truth. To these we owe our eternal gratitude.
It is difficult to accept the objectivity of psychiatric research, given it’s past practices. Psychiatry has a sorry history of ghost-writing research on behalf of drugs companies and being pampered by them. The further back in history we go, the worse the treatment of these so-called health professionals. The field of study of psychiatry is itself under threat by society’s growing realisation that mental health has not been served well by it. People are starting to see that psychiatry is the study of Mental *Illness* and not Mental Wellness.
I have found it interesting to listen to psychiatrists on the radio sounding more and more like psychologists or other talk-therapists. Now that we are in recession the untested & unproven brain-chemistry paradigm falls on its face, as it does not match with peoples’ life experience. The problem does not seem life-long to many people. My hope is that society continues to move away from the damaging DSM labels.
The above post does as if Schizophrenia is an illness that can be objectively determined. However, that is not the case at all. If I went into a psychiatrist today, without divulging any of my past history, they would not be able to determine that I have in been diagnosed in the past. Also, after my death, if you cut me up, you will not find any evidence pointing to a period of mental unwellness.
The likes of me, a “Paranoid Schizophrenic”, who has recovered from a supposed life long illness, do not get reported. RTE’s Liveline researcher specifically asked me to “leave out the bit about not being on medication”. As I refused, I was denied air time.
The truth is that there are many out there like myself who take no medication, have no contact with “health professionals” such as yourself, are “non-complaint” and “lack insight into their illness”. It’s fairly safe to assume that, historically, we have not been studied……. where’s the profit in that!
The truth Dr Jeffers is when there is no objective medical test to prove that ‘mental illness’ exists then you cannot diagnose anyone.
It is easy to see that drug ‘treatment’ has increased our problems if you have been unfortunate enough to be a victim of institutional psychiatry. The minute you walk in the door of a psychiatric hospital you will probably meet someone you know from the last time you were there. Dr David Healy did his own research in Wales and found that prior to the widespread use of psychotropic drugs the outcome for those who had psycho/social difficulties was much better.
I am one person who was unfortunate enough to be completely misunderstood. Psychotropic drugs almost killed my spirit and destroyed my body, Many doctors played a role in harming me. I’m sure they thought they were helping me but I was dying slowly from toxic poisoning. I have met and spoken to so many people who have had the same experience.
It is not too long ago since some friends of mine were discouraged by psychiatrists to go to psychotherapists. If you think early intervention is important what do you mean by this? Are you and the college of psychiatry going to campaign so we can have true asylums ( friendly, non clinical, warm places) where people can find support and peace so they can return refreshed to their community?
” Psychotropic drugs almost killed my spirit and destroyed my body, ”
That is the whole idea.