Introduction to the Study: Unveiling the Problematic

Abstract

This is a study of psychiatry. It is a study of an area officially a branch of medicine and overwhelmingly seen as legitimate, benign, progressive, and effective. That psychiatry is typically so viewed is readily apparent and may seem a “no-brainer.” Doctors specialize in it. It is covered by our health insurance, overseen by ministries of health. A high percentage of the population uses its treatments. People encourage their loved ones to consult a psychiatrist when encountering “personal problems.” And the media routinely report its “discoveries” and “improvements,” much as they report “breakthroughs” in the treatment of cancer. But what if society had it wrong? What if this were not legitimate medicine? What if psychiatry’s fundamental tenets and conceptualizations were inherently faulty? Indeed, what if—despite some helpful practitioners—it does far more harm than good? Such is the position of this book. While, on the face of it, this position may sound bizarre, it is important to note that for decades now scholars have indeed demonstrated fundamental and overwhelming problems both with the treatments and with the underlying conceptualizations (see, e.g., Szasz, 2007/2010; Breggin, 1991a; and Woolfolk, 2001). Correspondingly, unlike with any other branch of medicine, there is a long-standing international movement (largely comprised of folk that it has allegedly served) protesting most everything about it.¹