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| Reviewed: |
Mar 26, 2004 by Psychology |
| Overview: |
This site provides a collection of readings that criticize the use of drugs to
treat mental illnesses, as well as the use of psychosurgery. It can be described
as "anti-psychiatry". Commentaries on the side effects of
various psychiatric medications and procedures, and judgements in litigation
involving use of these treatments, are provided. The site presents the author's
negative view of many popular drugs such as Ritalin, neuroleptics,
benzodiazepines, and SSRI?s. It also describes legal actions against
pharmaceutical companies, and doctors who performed psychosurgery.
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| Learning Goals: |
This site serves to alert the public to the potential misuse of medical
procedures in psychological treatment. This is not a site designed for teaching.
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| Target Student Population: |
Undergraduate college students.
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| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
College-level reading ability.
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| Type of Material: |
Articles and commentaries.
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| Recommended Uses: |
This may be used as a critical thinking exercise, or as part of a discussion
about psychiatric methods or medical models of psychopathology. It could also be
used to promote a discussion of whether or not drugs should be used in the
treatment of mental illnesses. The material provided is emphatically critical
and does not prevent a balanced view of the subject - which could be used to
promote discussion.
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| Technical Requirements: |
None.
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| Strengths: |
The content covers many of the widely prescribed drugs and treatments for
schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and ADHD. All links appear functional and
the readings are not complex.
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| Concerns: |
The opinions expressed regarding the diagnosis and treatment
of ADHD and schizophrenia run contrary to the official views held by the
American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the
National Institute of Mental Health. Court cases and anecdotes are generally
used to argue for the author's position, not controlled research studies.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
This site can be used in a few different ways: 1. It can be used as an
introduction to the anti-psychiatry point of view and the dangers of
overprescription of drugs as well as the value of research into the current
drugs available for psychological treatment. 2. It can also be used as an
exercise in critical thinking with undergraduate students to present issues of
academic freedom, corporate interest, and potential preexisting biases.
3. Finally, from a lay point of view the site encourages sufferers of
psychological disorders and their caregivers to question doctors? judgments and
to take an interest in their own treatment. The site advocates for patients?
rights. The circumstances of the debates and litigation cases described
illustrate the level and nature of controversy that can and does exist in the
so-called ?harder sciences.?
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| Concerns: |
The instructor who opts to use this site should specify a goal such as examining
the controversy, or critical thinking, before sending inexperienced or
beginning level students to this site, because it is obviously biased. For a
more balanced view,
it would be important to direct students simultaneously to
sites such as those of the American Psychological Association, the American
Psychiatric Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, and even
encourage them to conduct their own search on the web for more critiques of Dr.
Breggin's work.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The site is easy to use. There are many links, mostly to other articles written
by the author himself, as well as some newspaper articles etc.
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| Concerns: |
The index on the main page is a grid that causes some confusion. It is not
quite clear whether the rows and columns have some connection to each other, or
whether the boxes are independent of each other. In addition, many of the links
provide information on how to purchase the author's products. A link may be
followed with the expectation of accessing more content and then turn out to
only provide information as to how to buy something that has been
referenced.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
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