7 Reasons America's Mental Health Insudstry is a Threat to Our Sanity

[cbayer]

11. You bring up some good points and I would only add that this is a very complex issue.

The best studies I have seen show that the best results (in general) are achieved when medication and therapy are used together.

There are also some psychiatric illnesses for which the underlying neurological issues have been better defined, and for many of these patients there are no significant underlying issues requiring therapy (like true Bipolar disorder). OTOH, there are clearly consequences of the illness that would benefit from therapy.

Absolutely agree about the profit motive with pharmaceutical companies. Do not really agree about physicians, though. Insurance has made it pretty much impossible for physicians to provide therapy. Even Medicare imposes higher copays and number of visit limitations that people with other kinds of illnesses are not subject to. This has greatly impacted the ability of all kinds of mental health professionals to provide therapy.

While I agree that medications are often over used and that the side effects can be profound, I think that the more we can define some psychiatric conditions as biologically based, the less marginalization and prejudice there will be against people that are stricken with these illnesses.