Anyone heard of Critical Psychiatry?


There is a group of psychiatrists who have taken up the anti-psychiatry tradition of R.D. Lange, T. Szaz and lately, Paul Breggin, renaming the movement Critical Psychiatry. They promote a radical stance fueled by ideology. But they don't seem to be quacks:

They were brought to my attention in this post by Shakedown1979. (showthread.php?postid=223953#poststop)


Critical Psychiatry: Their Definition (http://www.uea.ac.uk/%7Ewp276/define.htm)
In this context renewed criticism of modern psychiatry is needed and it may be important to resurrect "anti-psychiatry" ideas (Double 1992b, 1998). "Anti-psychiatry" in this sense is merely what psychiatry should be if it truly understood the facts of the case (Critical Psychiatry Network website). Anti-psychiatry is part of psychiatry but recognises that objectification of the mentally ill makes psychiatry part of the problem rather than the solution of mental illness (Jones 1997).

Joanna Moncrieff, IS PSYCHIATRY FOR SALE? (http://www.critpsynet.freeuk.com/pharmaceuticalindustry.htm)
"Even the American National Institute of Health concluded that there was no evidence that ADHD was a biological brain disorder (National Institute of Health, 1998)."
What the NIH said: (http://consensus.nih.gov/1998/1998AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder110html.h tm)

The diagnosis of ADHD can be made reliably using well-tested diagnostic interview methods. However, as of yet, there is no independent valid test for ADHD.
Although research has suggested a central nervous system basis for ADHD, further research is necessary to firmly establish ADHD as a brain disorder.
This is not unique to ADHD, but applies as well to most psychiatric disorders, including disabling diseases such as schizophrenia. Evidence supporting the validity of ADHD includes the long-term developmental course of ADHD over time, cross-national studies revealing similar risk factors, familial aggregation of ADHD (which may be genetic or environmental), and heritability."
This was a conservative statement by NIH which names the evidence available in 1998. NIH did not say there was no evidence. There's lots of evidence, they just could not firmly establish ADHD as a brain disorder.

IS PSYCHIATRY FOR SALE? (http://www.critpsynet.freeuk.com/pharmaceuticalindustry.htm), claims pharmaceutical companies now enjoy too much influence in many areas of psychiatry, health care and reseach. This is a viable point and hard to dispute.

But the author then makes a leap in logic to deny the existance and prevalence of mental disorders. The author contends that depression, social anxiety, and ADHD, etc. are social inventions promoted by pharmaceutical companies in order to sell drugs.


Joanna Moncrieff says Antidepressant efficacy may be overblown

The Story (http://%0ahttp//www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050716104137313) and a critique (http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2005/07/study_antidepressants_do_not_work/) From outsidethebeltway.com
In an interview with Reuters Health, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, an author of the report, said, "I do not think there is such a thing as a drug that will specifically relieve depression. I think so-called antidepressants are just drugs that do other things, such as sedating or stimulating people."

In fact, she continued, "I am skeptical as to whether there is a biochemical syndrome of depression despite the portrayal by the drug companies and some psychiatric literature."

. . .

In response, Dr. Darrel Regier, director of the Division of Research at the American Psychiatry Association, told Reuters Health that Moncrieff and Kirsch have "written an article that selectively pulls out negative studies and conveniently ignores or mischaracterizes positive studies."

"The interesting issue," he said, "is that it is now medical malpractice not to treat major depression with medication. If in fact there were nonsignificant differences (between antidepressants and placebo), that would not be the standard of care."

"Theirs is a radical sociological approach that will do anything to deny the existence of a medical disorder that affects the brain, that somehow the brain is sacrosanct and you can't have illness of the brain," he concluded. "It really is a remarkably biased presentation."

Critical Psychiatry Website (http://www.uea.ac.uk/%7Ewp276/what.htm)


A Selection of suggested readings by this group leads (http://www.uea.ac.uk/%7Ewp276/article.htm) with an article by Breggin and a lampoon by the Onion. This is followed by testimonials of psychosurgey survivors.

I'm wondering who these people are.

To the best of my knowledge, NIMH DOES view ADHD as a legitimate disorder.

If they don't (believe it's brain based), then why the hell did they fund Jay Giedd's work ? :)

His work was after 1998.

I don't think that anyone believes there's a definitive test available or that the research is anywhere near making a determination of exactly what causes ADHD.

Thos remarks are twisted and misleading.


P.S.

I would be interested to know if that is still their stance in 2006

Thanks McT,

I'm flying info on this group in General ADD to find out if anyone has heard of the Crit. Psych people.

I'm not looking for a debate. And I don't support their views.

Shakedown brought them up awhile back and I looked into this group recently, found what I found and presented that here.

But the author then makes a leap in logic to deny the existance and prevalence of mental disorders. The author contends that depression, social anxiety, and ADHD, etc. are social inventions promoted by pharmaceutical companies in order to sell drugs. If that's the case, then I am nothing more than a product of their invention. :p
Seriously though, it all depend on how I take the words. If he's saying that mental disorders don't exist, because he believes differences aren't disorders, I may have to mull that one over before flat-out denying it. There is the line of thought that ADHD isn't a disorder, but merely a difference, some even see it as an advancement.
And he by saying that social anxiety and depression disorders don't exist - he could mean that they're not disorders either, but one of many possible normal human reactions to life's input.

I'm not saying I agree, but I am saying that they're pretty small descriptions of very big thoughts. If we could question the author, we may find we don't hate what he says, he just comes at things from a different angle.

Or, we may hate him :D

Oh, by the way, what about the MRI brain scan thingy as a definitive diagnosis of AD/HD? I was under the assumption that was the newest-for-sure diagnostic tool.
Is it counted as not proof because it still doesn't show AD/HD differences on the molecular or genetic level?

To the best of my knowledge, NIMH DOES view ADHD as a legitimate disorder.

If they don't (believe it's brain based), then why the hell did they fund Jay Giedd's work ? :)

His work was after 1998.
I don't think that anyone believes there's a definitive test available or that the research is anywhere near making a determination of exactly what causes ADHD.

Thos remarks are twisted and misleading.

Yes, the NIH which oversees the NIMH certainly does acknowlege the existance of ADHD.

This author, Joanna Moncrieff, twists the words of the early (1998) NIH consensus to refute or caste doubt on the existance of ADHD.

P.S.
I would be interested to know if that is still their stance in 2006
If you look at the Critical Psych website, they continue to hold anti-mental illness views.


Seriously though, it all depend on how I take the words. If he's saying that mental disorders don't exist, because he believes differences aren't disorders, I may have to mull that one over before flat-out denying it. There is the line of thought that ADHD isn't a disorder, but merely a difference, some even see it as an advancement.
A
I agree with you here, these ideas are worth thinking about. But this author and the group she founded, seem to be mixing nice ideas together with an ideology. Then she misrepresents scientific studies to prove her points.

In the 1960s, R.D. Lang thought schitzephrenia was caused by stress, and internal conflict generated by society and family. Treat the mentally ill like normal human beings and you could help them get through their crisis.

It was a romantic vision.

He had a large residence where psychiatrists and therapists intermingled with patients. This was to bring the patient through their temporary crisis.

Nice idea, but . . . it doesn't work for the majority of people who are schizophrenic.

Moncrieff was in the news recently claiming that anti-depression drug don't work AND depression doesn't really exist in any physical way.

no, it's that there isn't yet enough research for it to be conclusive for a diagnosis, if i remember correctly. the research that i am aware of that is going on right now is not so much for their use in individual diagnosis, but rather broader research into what might be going on in add brains.

the other problem with an mri diagnostic test is the expense. why spend 10,000 bucks when there are clinically valid psychiatric tests

np Stan

I recognized that.

What I meant to say was whatever NIMH's position is ( or isn't).

Just as an fyi, Jay Giedd has done something interesting work.;)

tc & thanks

It appears to be the British version of the American Antipsych movement started by Breggin et al.

A reading list from the site. Hmmm...ten references to Breggin....

An Anti-Psychiatry Reading List

The following reading list of over one hundred titles covers the general critique of psychiatry, abnormal psychology, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, electroshock therapy (ECT), mental institutions, psychosurgery, eugenics, the history of psychiatry, women and psychiatry, race and psychatry, and children and psychiatry, Suggestions for additions and other comments are welcome. Inclusion here does not constitute an endorsement by the Centre for Psychotherapeutic Studies or the University of Sheffield.

Bargmann, E., Wolfe, S., & Levin, J. (1982). Stopping Valium: And Ativan, Centrax, Dalmane, Librium, Paxipam, Restoril, Serax, Tranxene, Xanax. New York: Warner.

Beers, C. (1908). A Mind that Found Itself: An Autobiography. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

Beliappa, J. (1991). Illness or Distress? Alternative Models of Mental Health. London: Confederation of Indian Organisations.

Blume, E. S. (1990). Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and Its Aftereffects in Women. New York: Wiley.

Boyers, R., & Orrill, R. (Eds.). (1971). R. D. Laing and Anti-Psychiatry. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Breggin, P. (1970). The Crazy from the Sane. New York: Lyle Stuart.

Breggin, P. (1975). Psychosurgery for political purposes. Duquesne Law Review(13), 841-62.

Breggin, P. (1979). Electroshock: Its Brain-Disabling Effects. New York: Springer.

Breggin, P. (1980). The Psychology of Freedom: Liberty and Love as a Way of Life. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus.

Breggin, P. (1981). Disabling the brain with electroshock. In M. Dongier & E. Wittkower (Eds.), Divergent Views in Psychiatry . Hagerstown, MD: Harper and Row.

Breggin, P. (1982). The return of lobotomy and psychosurgery. In R. Edwards (Ed.), Psychiatry and Ethics . Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.

Breggin, P. (1983). Psychiatric Drugs: Hazards to the Brain. New York: Springer.

Breggin, P. (1986). Neuropathology and Cognitive Dysfunction from ECT. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 478-79.

Breggin, P. (1990). Brain Damage, Dementia and Persistent Cognitive Dysfunction Associated with Neuroleptic Drugs. Journal of Mind and Behavior, 11(3 & 4), 425-63.

Breggin, P. (1993). Toxic Psychiatry. (UK ed.). London: HarperCollins.

Brown, P. (1988). Transfer of Care. London: Routledge.

Brown, P., & Funk, S. (1986). Tardive Dyskinesia: Barriers to the Professional Recognition of an Iatrogenic Disease. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 27, 116-32.

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Castel, R. (1992). The Regulation of Madness. Oxford: Polity.

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Chavkin, S. (1978). The Mind Stealers: Psychosurgery and Mind Control. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

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Forward, S. (1989). Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life. New York: Bantam.

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Friedberg, J. (1976). Shock Treatment Is Not Good for Your Brain. San Francisco: Glide.

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Thank you Stanzen..very interesting. I see there are already posts here with info from the smart people, so i will just say..

maybe these people are getting geared up for a mass marketing, production, and distribution of Reliv.

I'd like to say something on behalf of the dumb people :p

LOL Lettie! :D

the other problem with an mri diagnostic test is the expense. why spend 10,000 bucks when there are clinically valid psychiatric testsAnother smallish problem is having to be injected with radioactive material!:eek: My husband works with these types of brain imaging machines and believes if there is suffient reason to justify the risk -- great! An aneurism, tumor, etc certainly qualify but for a diagnosis that can be made without the risk, doesn't make much sense.

Scattered

I ended up doing a presentation for my master's class today about how ADHD can impact literacy development. After my presentation, people started talking about the debate about whether or not it is real and whether TV can be a cause. They also were wondering how to assess more of the deficits through testing, rather than the Connors scale or interview. I think it is just a lack of knowledge and if a biological cause could be pinpointed it would take a lot of the debate out of it.