Reddit reviews Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America

Considering there's a heated debate going on right now within the medical community that they don't perform much better than placebo

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592645/

I think the jury is still out.

Also it hasn't been disproven, but the majority of scientists agree that the chemical theory is not the cause of depression -

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-007-9047-3

Let me help you find more about it, if that's what you want to do.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chemical+imbalance+theory

a good read is a this book if you're interested more

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0036S4EGE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Yes... psych meds have the unfortunate side effect of making transient problems chronic.

This will elucidate: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing-ebook/dp/B0036S4EGE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492973798&sr=1-1&keywords=anatomy+of+an+epidemic

I suggest that book to anybody who is interested in a well researched look at the long term effects of medication. Also, anybody who has had a bad experience with medications should definitely read it as well.

But there are other factors at play. The only difference between a psychiatrist who charges $200 for 15-20 minutes and a psychologist who charges $120 for 50 minutes is the ability to prescribe medications. There is a reason why Psychiatrists rarely provide talk therapy. The AMA is invested in pushing a medical model of mental health because psycho-social therapy can be provided by PhD or masters level therapists for a fraction of the cost, and there is nothing in medical training that would give someone an inherent edge in being able to provide therapy. Basically, the playing field is too even when it comes to providing talk therapy. Also, the AMA actively lobbies to deny PhD level psychologists the ability to prescribe in order to protect their monopoly as the only source of psych meds (while also pushing the medical model as the fundamental source of mental distress).

I'm not implying that there is never a place for medication in treatment, but I do think that if anybody actually becomes informed on the issues, they will reach the conclusion that as a society we are DRAMATICALLY overmedicated and that pharma companies have an outsized influence on treatment. Also, the professional organizations that govern Psychiatry are knowingly allying themselves with pharma and pushing for unproven and at times harmful treatments in order to further their own aims.

While you're looking into the depression thing you might try reading [Anatomy of an Epidemic] (http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing-ebook/dp/B0036S4EGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422644475&sr=8-1&keywords=anatomy+of+an+epidemic). It had quite a lot to say about the prescribing of SSRIs to young people and it's worth a read.

These are both a good read if you hadn't already seen them.

https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing-ebook/dp/B0036S4EGE

https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Like-Us-Globalization-American-ebook/dp/B00321OR8K/ref=pd_sim_351_34?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00321OR8K&pd_rd_r=93b443d9-9c42-4356-9a1d-6538bb25df2c&pd_rd_w=7rj6K&pd_rd_wg=vxSSr&pf_rd_p=5c130f77-a5ef-4ffd-9db1-c29a354f52f9&pf_rd_r=JNEAQJVNT0TGPFPZ836B&psc=1&refRID=JNEAQJVNT0TGPFPZ836B

Here's a whole book.

https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing-ebook/dp/B0036S4EGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R6MXO2j0V0&t=3625s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNvCyUC_LPc&t=39s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gigZD4RIXhg&t=18s

It's all there if you take the time to read, study, watch.

People who were diagnosed as schizophrenics, who were completely cured and have been for decades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPfKc-TknWU&t=3617s