Posted by zeugma on January 1, 2004, at 19:58:09
In reply to The real problem cont.., posted by linkadge on January 1, 2004, at 19:36:00
My impression of Glenmullen's book is that he's a serious researcher, possibly he overstates the dangers of SSRI's and certainly can't be taken as the 'last word' on psychoactive substances, but is at least knowledgeable about (SOME) aspects of the medications he's talking about.
This is what I've gleaned from reading parts of his book (I don't own it, have little desire to at this point).
As for Peter Breggin: The man is just uninformed and has no credibility at all. He insists repeatedly that patients are made worse by psychotropic treatment, in ALL cases. this includes depressives, schizophrenics, bipolars, etc. He pushes instead an idea he calls "psychospiritual development" or some such. The danger is that he is playing up to society's fears about using drugs to treat illnesses, and so a lot of people consider him a credible voice regarding the pitfalls of these drugs.
A more balanced critic of psychotropic drugs (which i take glenmullen to be, at least on a partial reading) would know something about the actual properties and effects of the drugs themselves, rather than ignorantly pandering to his audience's prejudices.
poster:zeugma
thread:295371
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/295543.html