{{tag>Related}} ====== The Anti-Psychiatry Movement ====== The anti-psychiatry movement[(Anti-psychiatry>Anti psychiatry[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-psychiatry|Wikipedia]])] is a social movement and ideology that is critical of traditional psychiatric practices and theories. It has a long history dating back to the 1960s, and has been influential in shaping the way mental health is understood and treated. Proponents of the anti-psychiatry movement argue that psychiatry is a form of social control that is used to suppress and pathologize non-normative behaviors and experiences. They argue that psychiatric diagnoses are subjective and culturally biased, and that psychiatric treatments, such as medication and electroconvulsive therapy, are harmful and inhumane. Critics of the anti-psychiatry movement argue that it promotes a stigmatizing and dismissive attitude towards mental illness and those who suffer from it. They point out that psychiatric treatments, while not perfect, can be effective in helping people manage their mental health conditions and improve their quality of life. Overall, the anti-psychiatry movement has had a significant impact on the way mental health is understood and treated. While it has raised important questions and concerns about the limitations of traditional psychiatric practices, it has also faced criticism for its oversimplification of complex issues and its lack of recognition of the benefits of psychiatric treatment for some individuals.
“Overcoming problems on your own normalizes the situation, teaches new skills, and brings you closer to the people who were helpful. Taking a pill labels you as different and sick, even if you really aren't. Medication is essential when needed to reestablish homeostasis for those who are suffering from real psychiatric disorder. Medication interferes with homeostasis for those who are suffering from the problems of everyday life.” Allen Frances, Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-Of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life
==== Awareness about the side effects of psychiatric medications and informed consent ==== Among the potential unwanted effects of psychiatric medication, several common themes emerge. Physical side effects such as weight gain, persistent sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal disturbances are frequently reported and can significantly impact an individual's well-being and overall quality of life. Additionally, psychiatric medications have been associated with cognitive changes, including difficulties with concentration, memory, and decision-making, which may further complicate day-to-day functioning. Many times informed consent is missing. Many of these persistent symptoms continue after withdrawal and even new persistent neurological disorders can appear. Even professionals are not aware of the many issues. For more information please refer to this Youtube channel from Witt-Doerring Psychiatry, a professional psychiatrist who worked for the FDA. https://www.youtube.com/@witt-doerringpsychiatry {{youtube>4j50Q7zp8jQ}} ==== The Radical Therapy Collective ==== ** "//Therapy means social, political and personal change, not adjustment//". ** The Radical Therapy Collective[(The_Radical_Therapist>The Radical Therapist[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Radical_Therapist|Wikipedia]])] (RTC) is a group of therapists and activists who seek to challenge mainstream psychiatric practices and promote alternative approaches to mental health care. They argue that traditional psychiatry is based on a medical model that pathologizes and stigmatizes non-normative behaviors and experiences and that psychiatric treatments such as medication and electroconvulsive therapy are harmful and inhumane. RTC members advocate for a more holistic and empowering approach to mental health care that recognizes the social and political contexts in which mental health issues arise. They believe that mental health problems are often caused by oppressive systems and structures, such as capitalism, racism, and patriarchy, and that addressing these root causes is essential for true healing and transformation. To this end, RTC members often use a range of therapeutic approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy, such as group therapy, art therapy, and political education. They also engage in activism and community organizing, working to create social and political change that addresses the root causes of mental health problems. The RTC represents an important alternative to mainstream psychiatric practices and offers a more holistic and empowering approach to mental health care. While its ideas and approaches may not be suitable for everyone, it has played a valuable role in challenging traditional psychiatric practices and promoting more inclusive and transformative approaches to mental health care. ==== Thomas Szasz ==== Thomas Szasz[(Thomas_Szasz>Thomas Szasz[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Szasz|Wikipedia]])] was a prominent critic of psychiatry and the concept of mental illness. Szasz argued that mental illness was a myth and that psychiatric treatment was a form of social control. Szasz believed that the concept of mental illness was invented by society to label and control people who did not fit into mainstream society or who engaged in behavior that was considered abnormal or deviant. He argued that the term "mental illness" was used to label and stigmatize people, rather than to accurately describe a medical condition. Szasz argued that psychiatric treatment, such as prescribing medications or committing people to mental institutions, was a form of coercion and violated an individual's rights. He believed that people had the right to determine their own actions and behaviors, even if those actions were considered unconventional or problematic by society. Szasz also criticized the use of involuntary commitment, arguing that it was a way for society to control and punish those who did not conform to societal norms. He argued that individuals had the right to refuse treatment and that mental health professionals had no right to force treatment upon them. Szasz's views on psychiatry and mental illness were controversial and sparked much debate within the field. While his views were not widely accepted by the psychiatric community, they did help to bring attention to the issues of involuntary commitment and the potential abuse of power by mental health professionals. Szasz's anti-psychiatry views challenged the traditional understanding of mental illness and psychiatric treatment, and called for a more individualized and rights-based approach to mental health care. ==== Erving Goffman ==== Erving Goffman[(Erving_Goffman>Erving Goffman[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erving_Goffman|Wikipedia]])] was a sociologist who is known for his work on the concept of stigma and the social construction of mental illness. Like Thomas Szasz, Goffman was critical of psychiatry and the way in which mental illness was understood and treated. He argued that the concept of mental illness was a social construct and that psychiatric diagnoses were not based on objective, scientific criteria. He believed that mental illness was a label used by society to stigmatize and discriminate against people who were considered abnormal or deviant. Goffman also argued that the way in which mental illness was treated, such as through institutionalization or the use of medications, was often harmful and violated an individual's rights. He believed that people with mental illness should be treated with respect and dignity and that they should have the right to determine their own treatment and care. Erving Goffman's views on mental illness and psychiatry were influential and helped to bring attention to the issues of stigma and the potential harm of psychiatric treatment. His work also contributed to the development of the social model of mental illness, which emphasizes the social and cultural factors that contribute to mental health issues and the importance of addressing these issues in a holistic and rights-based manner. === Asylums === "Asylums"[( :harvard:Goffman1961>> authors : Erving Goffman title : Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates published : 1961 publisher : Doubleday isbn : 978-0-14-013739-2 url : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-013739-2 )][(Asylums_(book)>Erving Goffman - Asylums[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylums_(book)|Wikipedia]])] is Goffman's sociological study of life in institutions, specifically mental hospitals, but also including other types of institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. In the book, Goffman argues that these institutions are characterized by a "total institution," in which all aspects of life are controlled and regulated by the institution. Goffman contends that the concept of the "total institution" is important because it helps to understand how people's identities and behaviors are shaped by their experiences in these institutions. He suggests that individuals who are confined to total institutions tend to lose their sense of self and become more dependent on the institution and its rules. Goffman also explores the role of power and authority in these institutions, and how they are used to control the behavior of those who are confined within them. He argues that the staff of these institutions wield a great deal of power over the lives of the individuals within them, and that this power is often used in ways that are harmful to the individuals being controlled. Overall, "Asylums" is a thought-provoking and insightful examination of life in institutions and the ways in which they shape the identities and behaviors of those who are confined within them. === Presentation of Self in Everyday Life === "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life"[( :harvard:Goffman1959>> authors : Erving Goffman title : The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life published : 1959 publisher : Anchor Books isbn : 978-0-14-013571-8 url : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-013571-8 )][(The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life>Erving Goffman - The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life|Wikipedia]])] is Goffman's sociological study of how individuals present themselves to others in everyday interactions. Goffman argues that individuals are constantly engaged in a process of "impression management," in which they try to control how they are perceived by others. He suggests that people present themselves in different ways depending on the context and the audience, and that these presentations are often shaped by societal norms and expectations. Goffman uses the metaphor of the "front stage" and "back stage" to describe this process of impression management. On the "front stage," individuals present a carefully curated image to the outside world, while on the "back stage," they may behave differently and reveal their true selves. Goffman argues that this distinction between the front stage and back stage is an important aspect of everyday life, and that it helps to understand how people present themselves to others. "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" is a classic work in the field of sociology that offers a thought-provoking and insightful examination of how people present themselves to others in everyday interactions. It is an important contribution to our understanding of how social roles and identity are constructed and maintained in society. Goffman's antipsychiatry philosophy challenged traditional understandings of mental illness and advocated for a more compassionate and individualized approach to mental health care. ==== Michel Foucault ==== Michel Foucault[(Michel_Foucault>Michel Foucault[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault|Wikipedia]])] was a French philosopher who was critical of traditional psychiatric practices and the way they were used to control and discipline individuals. In his view, psychiatry was a tool of power used by the state to label and control people who did not conform to societal norms. Foucault proposed a more holistic approach to understanding and addressing mental health issues that took into account the social, cultural, and historical factors that contribute to an individual's experiences. He argued that mental health should be understood within a broader framework of power relations, and that efforts to address mental health should focus on addressing the social and cultural factors that contribute to mental illness rather than simply treating the symptoms. ==== Franco Basaglia ==== Franco Basaglia was an Italian psychiatrist and activist who is known for his contributions to the anti-psychiatry movement. Basaglia believed that traditional psychiatric practices, including the use of institutionalization and medication, were harmful and did not adequately address the needs of individuals with mental illness. In the 1960s, Basaglia began advocating for the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals in Italy and for the development of community-based mental health services. He argued that individuals with mental illness should be treated in the community, rather than being isolated in institutions, and that mental health care should be focused on addressing the social and cultural factors that contribute to mental illness. ==== Peter C. Gøtzsche ==== Peter Gøtzsche[(Peter_Gotzsche>Peter C. Gøtzsche[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_C._Gøtzsche|Wikipedia]])] is a Danish medical doctor and researcher who has been critical of the field of psychiatry and has argued that many psychiatric treatments, including antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, are overused and can do more harm than good. Gøtzsche has also been critical of the pharmaceutical industry and its influence on psychiatric research and treatment.
Psychiatric diagnoses are based on a constellation of symptoms that healthy people can also experience. When researchers interviewed 463 people, they found that all of them experienced thoughts, beliefs, moods, and fantasies that, if isolated in psychiatric interview, would support a diagnosis of mental illness. Peter C. Gøtzsche, MD [(Gotzsche2023>Self-test for Adult Symptom Deficiency Disorder[[https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/04/adult-symptom-deficiency-disorder/|Madinamerica]])]
Peter C. Gøtzsche, MD has published more than 80 papers in the top five general medical journals and his scientific works have been cited over 150,000 times. He has published several books relevant to psychiatry, including Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial[( :harvard:Gotzsche2015>> authors : Peter C. Gøtzsche title : Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial published : 2015 publisher : People's Press isbn : 978-87-7159-623-6 url : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-87-7159-623-6 )], Mental Health Survival Kit and Withdrawal from Psychiatric Drugs[( :harvard:Gotzsche2020>> authors : Peter C. Gøtzsche title : Mental Health Survival Kit and Withdrawal from Psychiatric Drugs published : 2020 publisher : People's Press isbn : 1615996192 url : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1615996192 )], and Critical Psychiatry Textbook and has argued that psychiatric disorders are often diagnosed too broadly and that many people who are given psychiatric diagnoses and treatment may not actually have a mental disorder. Gøtzsche is the co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that conducts systematic reviews of medical research and is known for its rigorous and independent evaluations of the evidence for various treatments. He is currently crowdfunding for his Institute for Scientific Freedom with the goal of preserving honesty and integrity in science.