Why Psychiatric Drugs Are Always Bad

January 26, 2003

Why Psychiatric Drugs Are Always Badby Douglas C. Smith, M.D.

I no longer recommend psychiatric medications to anyone.

This seems radical in this country because we are in the midst of the

" biological revolution. " Everyone seems to assume medications are are

specifically effective for various mental illnesses which are at least in part

chemical or genetic in origin. I believe the science behind this is seriously

flawed. It is based on false assumptions that lead to self-perpetuating

mythology (and huge profits for drug companies).

I first gave up on tranquilizers, then antidepressants, then all psychiatric

drugs. I learned that there are certain general principles that govern all

psychoactive substances and biologic treatments.

General Principles:

(1) " Mental illnesses, " even severe ones, are relational (I'd say spiritual as

well). Psychiatry, by focusing almost exclusively on biology, is making itself

increasingly irrelevant.

(2) Psychoactive substances provide at best, temporary relief, but always make

things worse in the long run. They make things worse directly (chemically) and

indirectly by distracting from the real issues.

(3) All psychoactive substances have rebound and withdrawal-related problems.

" Relapse " rates, in general, during withdrawal from psychiatric drugs, are about

10 times higher than would be expected if the drug had never been taken.

(4) " All biopsychiatric treatments share a common mode of action -- the

disruption of normal brain function " (Peter Breggin, M.D., Brain Disabling

Treatments in Psychiatry, Springer Pub. Co., 1997, p. 3). Drugs never correct

imbalances. They never improve the brain. They " work " by impairing the brain

and dampening feelings in various ways.

THE AUTHOR, Douglas C. Smith, M.D., graduated from Indiana University (1982 -

Phi Beta Kappa) and Indiana University School of Medicine (1986) and completed

his psychiatry training in 1990 and is board certified in psychiatry. He also

has had additional training in psychoanalysis. He currently lives and practices

in Juneau, Alaska. He is on the board of the National Association of Rights

Protection and Advocacy and the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry

and Psychology. This article is from Dr. Smith's website,

www.skepticalpsych.com, and is reproduced here with his permission. (Note: Dr.

Smith should not be confused with Douglas A. Smith, the webmaster of this

website.)

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

Recommended Posts