Psychiatry Now Admits It’s Been Wrong in Big Ways: But Can It Change?
Bruce E. Levine, a practicing clinical psychologist, recently interviewed Robert Whitaker. Whitaker is the author of Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness. In this book, Whitaker documented evidence that standard drug treatments were making many patients worse over the long term, and he detailed the lack of science behind these treatments.
Introducing his interview, Levine writes that:
“In the past four years, the psychiatry establishment has pivoted from first ignoring Whitaker to then debating him and attempting to discredit him to currently agreeing with many of his conclusions. But will Whitaker’s success in changing minds result in a change for the better in treatment practices?
I was curious about Whitaker’s take on the recent U-turns by major figures in the psychiatry establishment with respect to antipsychotic drug treatment, the validity of the “chemical imbalance” theory of mental illness and the validity of the DSM, psychiatry’s diagnostic bible. And I was curious about Whitaker’s sense of psychiatry’s future direction.”
I strongly recommend that you read the entire interview, which you can find at: Psychiatry Now Admits It’s Been Wrong in Big Ways: But Can It Change?
Additional Resources for Science and a System of Care
Biblical counselors have always stated that our “mission” is a system of care that is truly Scripture-based and that truly respects accurate science-based studies.
Whitaker and Levine state that their primary goal or mission is that psychological and psychiatric treatment be truly evidenced-based. That is, that the diagnosis and treatment of hurting people be based upon accurate scientific study. Whitaker words his mission like this:
“But in terms of accomplishing my mission, well, I guess my ‘mission’ would be to see that our society would actually build a system of care that was truly science-based, particularly in its use of psychiatric drugs.”
You can find Whitaker’s book here: Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.
An excellent book that respects Scripture-based counseling and science-based studies is Dr. Charles Hodges’ Good Mood Bad Mood.
Another interesting look at the science or pseudo-science of modern psychiatry is Saving Normal: An Insider’s Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life by Allen Frances which you can find here.
Recently, I penned a series of blog posts on Depression, Medication, and Biblical Counseling.
David Murray and Bob Kellemen Interact about Depression
Can an Unregenerate Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist Be Christ-Centered?
Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy the Same as Biblical Mind/Heart Renewal?
6 Words of Counsel about Depression, Medication, and Biblical Counseling
Join the Conversation
What is your opinion of Levine’s interview of Whitaker in Psychiatry Now Admits It’s Been Wrong in Big Ways: But Can It Change?
RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
Thanks Bob. How science, counseling and a biblical worldview overlap is very intriguing to me. So, thanks for the heads up on this book. Another book I found helpful on this subject was written by Yale professor of Psychiatry, Charles Barber. It is titled Comfortably Numb, How Psychiatry is Medicating a Nation. The first part of the book is basically about the history of psychotropic meds and their effectiveness in some cases for helping sufferers cope but how they are now out of control. The second half is alternatives, like CBT, and how they are just as or more effective. He also discusses brain plasticity research which I find exciting as a biblical counselor. In other words, we are not stuck with our brain chemistry. Believing things changes brain chemistry. Summary for me–it is an exciting time to be a biblical counselor and we need to be confident in our worldview!
Thanks, Bob. Judy and I are both ACBC certified biblical counselors and appreciate your always “grace-driven” yet scholarly work. We’ve reposted this and other works you’ve referenced on our FB page. Keep up “the good work” for our Lord’s glory. – Steve