Comments on: Psychiatry and Money

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:47:21 +0000

Mark,
Great! A wonderful book. If you were not aware of the following, see also the review by David Gordon (http://mises.org/misesreview_detail.aspx?control=265), a pre-2004 short essay by Szasz on Rothbard’s criticisms (http://www.szasz.com/rothbardonszasz.html), and Rothbard’s kinder speech from 1980 (http://mises.org/story/2330). At present I cannot locate Rothbard’s original review of The Myth of Mental Illness, but it is there somewhere.
Ted.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:37:16 +0000

Ted,

Thanks. I’ve just ordered a copy of “Faith in Freedom”.

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:44:53 +0000

Mark,

In Faith in Freedom, Szasz shows that Mill, Rand, Mises, Hayek and Nozick make the same basic mistake, while Rothbard reaches the right conclusion by way of a different route.

Ted.

By: R G Sullivan, MS, MD

R G Sullivan, MS, MD — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:54:50 +0000

I agree with many of the observations so far noted. it is always interesting to read the reasons people dislike psychiatry and psychiatric treatments. I agree that psychiatric diagnoses and medications are frequently misused, However they can be remarkably effective when used in a judicious manner. The key to this is TIME and the development of a reasonable collaborative connection between the doctor and the patient (and family). Unfortunately, the current “business” of medicine does not facilitate this kind of medical care.

By: Bobby Newman

Bobby Newman — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:40:32 +0000

:clap: I agree with what Mark and Amy have to say 1000 percent. I am a former college athlete,(full ride scholarship football player) who wanted a degree in coaching, was exposed to three semesters of psychology and realized it was a scam.I later became addicted to drugs (not a result of the psychology) but when looking for treatment would not conform to the traditional forms of psychological treatment because I knew it was bogus. Since graduating the Narconon program 8 years ago and since having lectured to over 130,000 kids in 6 states about drugs, it is very difficult because of all the false information kids are receiving from “professionals”. Kids hear, “take these drugs,they are good (amphetamines-Adderall/Ritalin) and but those are bad”, and kids are confused. Adderall is now the number one abused drug in Universities across the country, then you have direct to consumer advertising and people tell their doctors what drug is needed for what ailment. For more information you can also go to http://www.drugawareness.org, http://www.breggin.com and http://www.mindfreedom.org.

By: Amy Philo

Amy Philo — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:01:45 +0000

You know what is sicker than pushing bipolar meds on children? Pushing antipsychotic meds on pregnant women, nursing mothers, etc. And this is exactly what is going on right now in our government, with GRANTS being potentially given out to nonprofits and others if they will enforce the screening, drugging, hospitalization, and “case management” and “ensuring the safety of the child” for women considered AT RISK FOR depression or psychosis during and after pregnancy. And who likes to participate in putting women on antipsychotics? Mothering Magazine and Dr. Thomas Hale, Postpartum Support International, The ACOG, etc. etc. etc. Google The MOTHERS Act or go to http://www.uniteforlife.org

These drugs kill babies in the womb and after.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:28:47 +0000

I agree, based on my experience in med school, that many of the med students who went into psychiatry did so because they wanted “to figure themselves out”. But there’s nothing wrong with that. The dogma used to be that you couldn’t really be a good shrink unless you understood yourself first. I don’t know what the dogma is now (or even if one exists) but, if it does exist, it probably relates to (1) how well you know the DSM-IV and can squeeze people into some kind of diagnosis, (2) how good you are at handing out pills, and (3) how good you are at giving injections. Actually, you will delegate the last 2 responsibilities to Nurse Ratched.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:17:31 +0000

Ted,

Can you be a little clearer? Which libertarians (specific names not necessary) are you talking about and in what way are they wrong? Thanks.

By: Libertarian

Libertarian — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:50:03 +0000

My younger brother is a psychiatrist, and he’s nuttier than a fruitcake. I think guys and gals choose psychiatry in after med school to try and figure themselves out. They ain’t playin’ with a full deck!

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:03 +0000

Agreed. But why, may I ask, do you think that libertarians are so often wrong on this issue?
Ted.