Latest Peter Breggin Stories
Peter Breggin, a leading crusader against the abusive prescription of psychiatric drugs who has been called “the conscience of psychiatry,” presents a pioneering, person-centered approach to psychiatric drug withdrawal in his new book, Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families. New York, NY (PRWEB) July 18, 2012 Peter Breggin, a leading crusader against the abusive prescription of psychiatric drugs who has been called “the...
ITHACA, N.Y., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Canadian Winnipeg Free Press tells the story: "Judge Agrees Prozac Made Teen a Killer." Judge Robert Heinrich listened to expert psychiatric testimony for the defense by Peter Breggin, MD and issued his opinion regarding the sixteen-year-old who stabbed his friend to death. The judge stated, "His basic normalcy now further confirms he no longer poses a risk of violence to anyone and that his mental deterioration and resulting violence would not...
SAN DIEGO, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A new film on depression, drugs and alternative paths to better mental health will premiere Wednesday, May 12th at UltraStar Cinemas in Del Mar, CA. An answer to the pharmaceutical industry's media blitz, Living Life Films' "Changing Our Minds" questions society's values while revealing interesting and disturbing truths about psychiatry and the drug industry. It continues by exploring well-understood, cognitive paths to recovery as scientists, counselors,...
In her Sept. 28 guest column, Dr. Joey Banks ignored conflicts of interest in entrepreneurial medicine, illustrating the damage done to medicine by the "conservative revolution" and the resulting uncontrollable costs thereof. I will restrict my comments to reproductive medicine, as were hers. Prior to 1965, when my father practiced medicine in Lewiston, Medicare and MaineCare were non-existent. Few physicians were incorporated. There was less insurance and litigation and health care costs...
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel voted Thursday not to recommend black-box warnings -- the agency's toughest warning -- for several epilepsy drugs. The FDA panel voted 14 to 4 with 3 abstentions against adding the tougher warning because the panel said studies didn't show a high enough risk for suicidal behavior; however, the panel voted in favor of sending a medication guide to doctors detailing the risks of suicide with the drugs, The Wall Street Journal reported. The FDA, which...
By Murray, Thomas L Jr A number of literature reviews exist that support the use of psychotropic medications. This article provides a review of the disconfirming literature regarding psychopharmacology use. Comparing the first review of psychopharmacology published in the counseling field two decades earlier to what is known currently, I examine recent developments in psychopharmacology research focusing on the safety, efficacy, side-effects, and theoretical assumptions of various classes of...
By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Suicidal behavior among adults taking antidepressants drops almost as soon as they begin medication, researchers said on Sunday in findings that experts said confirm their effectiveness in older patients. The decline was especially significant among patients taking newer drugs to treat depression, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, compared to those taking older medicines. The findings, published in the January issue of...
By Lisa Richwine ROCKVILLE, Md. (Reuters) - U.S. regulators should publicize concerns about psychiatric problems in some children who took certain attention-deficit drugs even though officials are unsure if the medicines caused the behavior, several members of an advisory panel said on Thursday. Many on the panel of outside experts agreed with Food and Drug Administration officials who said it was premature to update warnings on the drugs, which include Johnson & Johnson's Concerta and...
