In “ The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?” ( New York Review of Books, 2011), Marcia Angell, former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, discusses over-diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, pathologizing of normal behaviors, Big Pharma corruption of psychiatry, and the adverse effects of psychiatric medications. While diagnostic expansionism and Big Pharma certainly deserve a large share of the blame for this epidemic, there is another reason.
Month: March 2015
Overtested Americans: When cancer isn’t cancer at all
Basically, cancer is scary, but some kinds may be more boogeyman-in-the-closet scary than serial killer scary.
How yoga is helping prisoners stay calm
Many prisoners have discovered that yoga and meditation can help overcome the stress and strain of life behind bars. Prison authorities too are waking up to the possible benefits, providing classes in the hope of fostering a calm and positive atmosphere.
A Toddler on 3 Different Psychiatric Meds? How Drugging Kids Became Big Business
Why We Hate Facebook
The Banality of Systemic Evil
In recent months there has been a visible struggle in the media to come to grips with the leaking, whistle-blowing and hacktivism that has vexed the United States military and the private and government intelligence communities. This response has run the gamut. It has involved attempts to condemn, support, demonize, psychoanalyze and in some cases canonize figures like Aaron Swartz, Jeremy Hammond, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden.
The Most Depressing Discovery About the Brain, Ever
Say goodnight to the dream that education, journalism, scientific evidence, or reason can provide the tools that people need in order to make good decisions.
What Witchcraft Is Facebook?
Mass psychogenic illness—historically known as “mass hysteria”—is making a comeback.
In Mindfulness, a Method to Sharpen Focus and Open Minds
“Like most people, I have my share of tension and anxiety. And I’m happy to find ways to cope that don’t involve illegal drugs. So when the term mindfulness began cropping up everywhere, I became intrigued.”
How to Improve Handwriting
We may not write by hand much anymore but it is still a reflection of oneself.