Anatomy of an Epidemic
Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
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Anatomy of an Epidemic
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Narrated by:
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Ken Kliban
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Written by:
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Robert Whitaker
About this listen
In this astonishing and startling book, award-winning science and history writer Robert Whitaker investigates a medical mystery: Why has the number of disabled mentally ill in the United States tripled over the past two decades? Every day, 1,100 adults and children are added to the government disability rolls because they have become newly disabled by mental illness, with this epidemic spreading most rapidly among our nations children. What is going on?
Anatomy of an Epidemic challenges listeners to think through that question themselves. First, Whitaker investigates what is known today about the biological causes of mental disorders. Do psychiatric medications fix chemical imbalances in the brain, or do they, in fact, create them? Researchers spent decades studying that question, and by the late 1980s, they had their answer. Listeners will be startled - and dismayed - to discover what was reported in the scientific journals.
Then comes the scientific query at the heart of this book: During the past 50 years, when investigators looked at how psychiatric drugs affected long-term outcomes, what did they find? Did they discover that the drugs help people stay well? Function better? Enjoy good physical health? Or did they find that these medications, for some paradoxical reason, increase the likelihood that people will become chronically ill, less able to function well, more prone to physical illness?
This is the first book to look at the merits of psychiatric medications through the prism of long-term results. By the end of this review of the outcomes literature, listeners are certain to have a haunting question of their own: Why have the results from these long-term studies - all of which point to the same startling conclusion - been kept from the public?
©2010 Robert Whitaker (P)2010 Audible, Inc.What the critics say
What listeners say about Anatomy of an Epidemic
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adriaan
- 2024-10-12
Should be a staple in every bookshelf
Amazing book, the author does a fantastic job of presenting his research and answering the questions that are the focal point of the book. I also have worked in mental health and addictions for over 12 years and I can account first hand seeing exactly what this book describes. if only this was required reading for psychiatry. Should be required reading for students as well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- priya
- 2022-11-17
Everyone on psych drugs should read
This is info your doctor won’t give you, and probably doesn’t even know the full extent of.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Derek robson
- 2023-11-17
Everyone should read this book
Great book, should be required reading school, and anyone with mental issues of any kind should read it prior to starting a treatment plan
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2022-03-04
Conflicted
I found much value in this information considering we really have been lied to by drug companies and manufacturers as they run their businesses. This book is a tell-all/esposé into the history and hidden science of mental health and illness and the dark secrets of the medications that treat these issues.
It is important to keep in mind that mental illness and neurological divergence is so very real and personal for many people, and medication can be life saving for those who need it despite the side effects. Take everything within your own context, and do not feel shame if you struggle with your diagnosis or the prescriptions you wish to treat it with. Use the information in this book to make logical and informed choices based on your own personal nature and well-being.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann Benson
- 2019-04-29
Game Changer
A must read for anyone who ever used or considered using drugs for mental illness.
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