Podcast 413: The great psychiatry fraud

SHOW DESCRIPTION: In this podcast I speak with best-selling author, journalist and mental health advocate Robert Whitaker about the myth of the chemical imbalance, the politics of psychiatry and Big Pharma, and why we need to change the way we think and talk about mental health. Whitaker sees his role as a science journalist as someone who is an honest communicator. Science journalism is a public service—it involves presenting real, evidence-based science to the public, not marketing. This role as an honest communicator shaped Whitaker’s work as director of public relations at Harvard medical school, and eventually led him to investigate how medical professionals can delude themselves, how money and business can corrupt medical practice, including psychiatry, and the myth of the chemical imbalance

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
5:05 Why Robert Whitaker is so passionate about mental health
6:00 The need for real mental health science, not marketing
8:13, 30:00 The myth of the chemical imbalance
9:15 Whitaker’s amazing book Mad in America & psychiatry’s many delusions
11:20 How psychiatric drugs can affect people in the long term
13:12 The recent scientific article that everyone is talking about
16:00, 44:40 We have all been lied to & it is time to take action
24:00 Debunking the myth of progress: the WHO study
27:40, 33:00, 1:12:00 There is hope!
30:00 Why Robert Whitaker started his organization Mad in America
41:00, 1:20:00 The pathologization of childhood
46:00 The disease model has made things worse
55:00 Drug outcomes in real world patients & how psychiatric drugs can impact the brain
1:08:00 How our experiences can change us mentally & physically
1:16:20 What is wrong with the DSM

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional.

[kymchessall]

From meds to street drugs to homeless shelters. All by official design and the profits off all that are astounding indeed. No doubt psychiatry will be remembered as one of the dirtiest tricks played on humanity. Nice work in bringing forth truth and hope for humanity

[katherinelalli]

I'm a statistic. 56 yo, disabled by ECT 15 years ago, which I was subjected to after years of psych polydrugging when the psychiatrist said I was treatment-resistant. After the ECT they added a borderliine diagnosis and added antipsychotics to the mix. "Medical battery" describes it exactly.

[Amy-qzim]

Just this week a psychiatrist "explained" to me that antipsychotics regulate dopamine in the brain when it has too much dopamine. I said "That's been disproven", and he said, "I'm not arguing this with you". Which shows that the chemical imbalance lie is still alive and well. He charged £350 an hour to my insurance company.

[ladyfine]

My psychiatrists fought tooth and nail to keep me on meds. She even used a scare tactic saying "its been shown that anxiety and depression symptoms come back worsened which may cause for stronger meds"...Wow

[curiousone]

"We need to get back to being human." -- Dr. Leaf. Yes! We also have a civil responsibility to friends/acquaintances, family members, coworkers or employees, etc. to actually "be there" for one another again. We've lost the art. How many times do people confide in one another about a hardship or a bad chapter in our life, only to be told "go to therapy?" I'm not criticizing therapy -- I do in fact, go -- but it's not a replacement for the humanity that keeps the gears of society functioning optimally where we don't just consider our OWN best interests, but those of others with kindness and compassion. The people who are inconvenienced by the less pleasant aspects of humanity not only isolate others and avoid the ability to meaningfully connect, but they isolate themselves from support others could give them, too. This was a refreshingly frank and wonderful interview. I've been a follower of Mad in America for years. Without the physicians and patient advocates there, we'd have no pushback against these darker interests at all.

[melnelly]

This is terrible.
I was on the wrong antidepressant for 5 months causing more anxiety so I was told to take a higher dose. Had to go to hospital because my heart rate was so high. I thought it was me because I trusted the medicals. I took myself off because no one knows enough to guide and help. I feel no different not taking it. The withdrawal affects is enough to keep me off.
Change in diet has a huge affect on mood.

[capresti]

Psychiatry is the most inhumane disgusting destruction of humanity on this earth.

[Blahblahblahblah]

41:26 Concepts of medical negligence and medical battery. I love Robert Whitaker!

[MelBlossom]

I'm far behind on Robert's work but Dr. Leaf has been an important voice in how I view mental illness for a few years. Great to see these two together. This info is so critical for everyone.

[dreamznaspiratons]

Please keep having these discussions. You guys are important in this world. Your work is critical.voice for the voiceless

[virtuousdesi]

Hello, I am a licensed therapist, Christian counselor and life coach. While this is wonderful information and definitely confirmation on some things that I already suspected. Would love to hear more detailed information on what we as mental health professionals can do to not only educate our clients and parents but give them responsible alternatives.

If we can re-educate therapist and school counselors I think we can create a movement towards healthy alternatives but those alternatives have to be readily assessable.

[munimuni]

The world needs you both. I am very grateful. Thank you.❤

[krisd]

I was left on experimental science 33 years. Ct'd, Eod'd, jailed and abused in lock-ups lockdowns ectera. My last abusive EOD CT was in early 2019. I STILL have akathisia from MULTIPLE classes of poisonous big pharma! Check out Oklahoma's ranking in mental healthcare. I think we are in the lowest 10th in the Nation for poor mental health care. I spent 33 years of my life in and out of psych hospital's. Many of them extended stays. Experimental science ruined my life and now I have life-threatening permanent bodily injuries on top of BIND and Akathisia from this negligence. I agree this is total madness and the experiments need to stop! How is this not medical malpractice?! How is this psychiatry quackery allowed? The abuse sure was in my case and I am still suffering. I was told I eould never be able to live without psych drugs. Hogwash and grateful to be off of those poisons. Kris D from Oklahoma, USA

[sweetcaroline]

Excellent There should be many more documentaries dealing with this topic.

[gracegrace]

I’m so sad because there’s so much information but no help for people stuck in the system and on drugs. God help! I ask Him to take me home every night because this is no way to live.

[dreamznaspiratons]

What a hero, I’d love to interview you both one day

[nancycordero-severance]

Excellent interview....I emailed everyone in my family this interview. Dr. Leaf, how about a part 2, discussing ways of addressing ADD, depression and schizophrenia, with proper nutrition, neurocycling, movement, and spirituality?
Lisa miller - The Spiritual Child.
Frank Anderson - Harvard IFS
A Naturopathic ND, a certified nutritionist (not a dietician)
And a movement specialist....lol, if there is such a thing. I healed my depression, anxiety, addiction, truama and more, with a holistic approach. I'm 53, no meds, and can manage my internal state very well. Breaks my heart to see so many people who have not been taught how to regulate for healing. HOSEA 4:6

[coopsawright]

I have an appointment with a fast moving train since they forced me for a 3rd time to take anti psychotics and the last lot nearly killed me so now i cant suffer the brutal side effects any more and must end the suffering myself. i am sorry everyone bc its just too hard

[cuekinaja]

Thank you for this video. I'm in Indonesia, psychiatrists are still using the chemical balance theory. They told me: don't believe everything from the internet. Hahaha. I'm so sad and I feel helpless because they lie to my daughter. They just plan to drug her for life.

[agnesdyck]

So glad you are bringing this lie to the for front. Thank you!