My friend journalist Robert Whitaker discusses the truth about anti-depressants and the need to bridge the gap between the public perception of mental health and the evidence-based reality. He uncovers the historical perspective on psychiatric treatments and how the long-term studies in the 1960s and 1970s revealed the questionable efficacy of these drugs. Whitaker emphasizes the importance of making the scientific literature known to the public, as studies have shown that individuals who were stabilized off psychiatric medications had better outcomes compared to those who regularly took their medications. He also discusses the ironic truth about antidepressants, highlighting that they do not fix the “low serotonin” in depressed individuals but instead disrupt normal serotonin function and can lead to relapses and dependence. Whitaker argues for a more comprehensive understanding of mental health conditions and the consideration of alternative approaches to treatment.
Check Out: Mad In America
Key Moments
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:00 Lobotomies won Nobel Prizes
00:10:00 Psychiatric medications
00:15:00 The natural course of depression
00:20:00 The ironic truth about antidepressants
00:25:00 Psychiatry wanted to rebrand
00:30:00 Overuse of medications to treat mental health
00:35:00 The pharmaceutical industry
00:40:00 Study of stimulants for ADHD in the 90s
00:45:00 Mad in America
John Waters | Legendary Film Maker
Vijay Prashad | Author & Historian | US Imperialism | #66 Homeless Romantic Podcast
Survival of the Richest | A Conversation with Douglas Rushkoff | #158 HR
Bill Ayers | Anarchism & Socialism | Weathermen Underground | #98 HR
A Conversation with Cory Doctorow | Author, Journalist & Activist #155 HR
https://linktr.ee/ChrisJeffries
The Homeless Romantic Podcast
DONATE TO US!
https://patreon.com/thehomelessromanti
MUSIC INTRO by @JustinLepard
Justin Lepard Psychedelic Cello