Book Updates

Anatomy of an Epidemic Wins Investigative Journalism Award

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:17:37 -0400

Investigative Reporters and Editors recently named Anatomy of an Epidemic as the winner of its 2010 best “investigative journalism” award in the books category. Here is the IRE’s citation: Book: Robert Whitaker for “Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.” This eye-opening investigation of the pharmaceutical industry and its relationship with the medical system lays out troubling evidence that the very medications prescribed for mental illness may, in increasing measure, be part of the problem. Whitaker marshals evidence to suggest medications “increase the risk that a person will become disabled” permanently by disorders such as depression, bipolar illness and schizophrenia. This book provides an in-depth exploration of medical studies and science and intersperses compelling anecdotal examples. In the end, Whitaker punches holes in the conventional wisdom of treatment of mental illness with drugs.

Psychotropic Drugs and Children

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:38:58 -0400

I recently was asked to give a talk to a group called “Science for the Public” on psychotropic drugs and children. A video of that talk was posted on WGBH’s website. http://forum-network.org/lecture/psychotropic-drugs-and-children

Time Magazine Review

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:21:16 -0400

As I expected, Anatomy of an Epidemic is turning out to be a controversial book. A nice review in New Scientist magazine, a thrashing in the Boston Globe, and now a good review in Time magazine. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. For my reply to the Boston Globe criticism, go to madinamerica.com

New Scientist Review of Anatomy of an Epidemic

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:13:05 -0400

My new book, Anatomy of an Epidemic, will be released on April 13. Given its provocative theme, which is that psychiatric medications worsen the long-term course of mental disorders, I expect to hear a fair amount of criticism from reviewers. It was comforting, then, to see this first review of the book that appeared in the New Scientist. The reviewer, Druin Burch, is a physician who writes about the history of medicine and about “evidence-based” medicine, and so it was nice to see that he found the book to be rooted in a thorough review of the science.