Health Care Reform Support Group

1. Drug “pushing” is what we can expect so long as we have a health care system that is profit motivated.
2. Drug “pushing” may indeed be contributing to the phenomena where more and more “mental illnesses” are being diagnosed (or over-diagnosed and misdiagnosed). Increasingly primary care physicians are diagnosing and treating their patients for depression and anxiety like conditions rather than referring to mental health professionals. This is unfortunate because most of the research I have read over the years concludes that for many mental illnesses (not all) the treatment that works best combines both medication and psychotherapy type approaches.
3. To say that many mental illnesses appear to have a physical basis is not the same as saying research has “proven” they are biological… especially when one also notes that mental illness is poorly understood at this time.
4. Many people with major depression may have symptoms that include the tendency to isolate themselves (or “hide”) and to feel very ashamed. One positive aspect about the “medical” model and the current surge of medication (as well as the surge of commercials) is the attempt to alleviate the stigma and shame in society that so many with such disorders (and their families) have to live with. Whether the medical model is the best approach to treating “mental illness” or not, compassion (rather than more shaming) for those that are suffering is needed.
5. I think that you need to heed your on advise regard reading the literature more critically --- After going to the link provided on the adverse childhood study I believe it is rather misleading to say “it showed conclusively that the only predictor”… The study merely discusses the CORRELATION between adverse childhood events and later problems. Correlation means that two things occur together, or are associated with each other, but unfortunately does not provide enough information regarding cause/effect. I did not read anything in the article that suggested that these adverse events were the “only” factor in later problems. And interestingly, the study also points out that many of these adverse childhood events were correlated with physical illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis. Thus shall I repeat what I said earlier ----- "Major Stress" indeed does appear to be a precipitating factor for many who develop these disorders... And "stress" seems to be an exacerbating or precipitating factor in many illnesses -- physical as well as psychological. --- This study does not rule out the possibility that many “mental illnesses” may have a physical basis.
6. Although I have not had time to obtain and read the books suggested I was able to review some information about Breggin’s arguments on the twin studies. From what I could read I think he is arguing that genetics is not the “sole” cause of schizophrenia. This is much different than saying there is “no physical basis”. Many in the field, like myself, believe that both physical and environmental factors contribute to the disorder….this may be the case with many “physical illnesses” as well. At the same time that potential physical factors contributing to mental illness are being investigated there is also increasing awareness and appreciation of the “mind-body” link going on in physical illness as well. Like people with schizophrenia, people with MS have abnormalities in the brain. Like schizophrenia, relatives of someone with MS are more likely to also develop MS, but this does not occur 100% of the time. Like schizophrenia, “stress” appears to be (at the very least) an exacerbating factor in MSa. The exact cause of MS is as yet unknown. MS is currently thought to be an autoimmune disease which is triggered by an unknown environmental event in people who have a genetic predisposition. The fact that researchers have not identified a “gene” for schizophrenia is not surprising --- this is also the case with many “physical illnesses” like MS as well. I do think that Breggin’s arguments are very important in reminding us to review research critically and to keep an open mind. And that is my whole point --- let us not judge (mental illness itself, or the very personal decision—such as whether to take BC Pills or not even though we know they have side effects--- to take medication or not) prematurely.

And Elliott Valenstein. Any of his books should prove helpful.