Toxic Psychiatry: Why Therapy, Empathy and Love Must Replace the Drugs, Electroshock, and Biochemical Theories of the "New Psychiatry"

"I think Peter Breggin's book is an accurate portrayal of psychiatry today but is his problem with the fact that current anti-psychotics (except for Clozaril which has its own set of severe side effects including blood dyscreias) can cause tardive dyskinesia which I have in severe forms and tardive psychosis (still not a named criteria but I am under study for) or psychiatric medication as a concept? I do feel I benefited from treatment and many people do, as a person with a psychiatric disability (schizoaffective) so I wouldn't want that option taken away. But perhaps people's minds, including the author of this book would change if there were new anti-psychotics that didnt' cause Parkinsonianism or diabetes and promoted a full recovery. There are in study and its not a hypothetical. Having made a full recovery from glycine, a glutamate antagonist, a new class of antipsychotic in study, the difference in recovery has been night and day. This will be documented in research and although it will published in a psychiatric journal, came from a consumer advocate, not a "study patient". Yes what Peter Breggin says is all true. But what if it could change? What if treatment existed where people could recover fully and have their selves as they should have existed returned to them and not feel "drugged up". As this will be a reality, I would like this to be added as new information to the book and hope that thanks to it that people can experience the full mental recovery I did without the debilitating and very real world Parkinsonian conditions which I am under studies for new treatment as well. Why abandon the system when we can change it and humanize it?"
~ Written on 2008-09-28

" I wrote a long review of this book but as usual, Microsoft cut me off before I could publish it. So I have to make this short. Anyone who wants the whole review should refer to my blogspot. Briefly, as someone who is searching for evidence that the CIA is using a two-stage method developed in the nineteen-sixties involving ECT and narco-hypnosis, I was particularly impressed by Breggin's expose of Dr. Gary Carl Aden, the major advocate for ECT in California. He quotes an article in the San Diego Union which states that "Dr. Gary Carl Aden, 52, of La Jolla gave up his medical license effective September 8 after allegations that he had sex with patients, beat them and branded them with heated metal devices, including one which bore his own initials." I have checked with the San Diego Union and the story is true. He also used narco-hypnosis. As I suspect that this (perhaps shorn of its kinky elements) is precisely the combination of techniques being used by the Agency, I invite anyone with further information on Aden to write me. "
~ Written on 2008-07-16

"This book will open your eyes to the myth that if you can't fix something with a pill, then it can't be fixed at all.

An exvellent read. A bit advanced, but still can be followed and understood. A word of warning: If you have a psychiatrist treating you, he/she probably won't appreciate your input from this book. But I still think it informs and then allows you to discuss treatment options more factually, as opposed to just being passive in your care decisions.

A must read for those who find themselves blindly accepting yet another prescription, because the doctor said to. "
~ Written on 2007-08-07

"Peter Breggin is the Erin Brokovich of the Psychopharmaceutical Industry! The widespread "chemical abuse" of millions of people by psychiatrists, is an international crime! Peter Breggen's book(s) are the most powerful whistleblower revelations against this global multi-billion dollar psychiatry industry. Governments need to recognise that they are actually funding with billions of taxpayer dollars, the barbaric brain damaging and controlling of multitudes of people they are elected to protect.

"Toxic Psychiatry" is more than a wake up call, it is trumpet call to confront this diabolical nazi-like "poisoning" of millions! It is a must read for all. Having been involved in counselling for nearly 30 years, I have seen first hand the dis-diagnoses and subsequent mind-altering "treatments" of the psychiatric fraternity empowered by the psychopharmaceutical giants. The results of lifelong enslavement to "diagnostic labelling" and to the chronic poisoning by mind/body disabling medications, is a modern day holocaust affecting millions, which continues to be supported by governments of most nations.

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~ Written on 2007-01-05

"I was going to assign this book to my students in my Abnormal Psychology class... The first chapter is powerful and true. However, this author irresponsibly attacks the parents of the mentally ill as responsible for their children's illnesses!!!! He also attacks NAMI, the National Association of the Mentally Ill, an organization that has helped more mentally ill patients recover, find support and their way to a successful and meaningful life, and has truly educated more people about mental illness than Breggin has ever done himself, I am sure. The good points the book makes about inadequate and even harmful psychiatric care in mental institutions are, in my opinion, obfuscated by his unwarranted attacks on parents -- attacks, I believe, that may be a result of his old-fashioned psychoanalytical training."
~ Written on 2006-11-04