There is more than one author in the goodreads catalog with this name. Robert whitaker talks about the downside to psychiatric meds. Anatomy of an epidemic the explosion of mental illness. In anatomy of an epidemic, i report on the longterm outcomes literature for schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and bipolar illness, and also the.
In this astonishing and startling book, awardwinning scien. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america by robert whitaker broadway books, 2011 in 2010 robert whitaker. Anatomy of an epidemic challenges listeners to think through that question themselves. His newspaper and magazine articles on the mentally ill and the pharmaceutical industry have garnered several national awards, including a george polk award for medical writing and a national association of science writers award for best magazine article. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america 1 by whitaker, robert isbn. In april 2011, ire announced that anatomy of an epidemic had won its award as the best investigative journalism book of 2010 stating, this book provides an indepth exploration of medical studies and science and intersperses compelling anecdotal examples.
In this astonishing and startling book, awardwinning science and history writer robert whitaker investigates a medical mystery. Updated with bonus material, including a new foreword and afterword with new research, this new york times bestseller is. Anatomy of an epidemic by robert whitaker the weston a. Longterm antipsychotic treatment and brain volumes. Far from these drugs normalising an abnormal state of brain.
He went on to write mad in america, named by discover magazine as one of the best science books of 2002. And some of these people will likely claim that the book changed their lives or, at the very least, their view of psychiatry and psychiatric medication. First, whitaker investigates what is known today about the biological causes of mental disorders. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america is a book by robert whitaker published in 2010 by crown.
Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america by robert whitaker at due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Praise for anatomy of an epidemicthe timing of robert whitakers anatomy of an epidemic, a comprehensive. These blinks bust the myths were told about such drugs, and, in the process, may make you question the wisdom of fighting psychological ills with a panoply of pills.
Anatomy of an epidemic, robert whitaker, 2010 ad by steve rudd. In anatomy of an epidemic investigative reporter robert whitaker cuts through. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america by robert whitaker new york. In anatomy of an epidemic investigative reporter robert whitaker cuts through flawed science, greed and outright lies to reveal that the drugs hailed as the cure for mental disorders instead worsen them over the long term. Interview with investigative journalist, robert whitaker. Whitaker asks why the number of americans who receive government disability for mental illness approximately doubled since 1987 in the book, whitaker tries to answer that question and examines the longterm outcomes for the. This is itself a wise and necessary book essential reading for all those who have experienced, or care for those who have experienced, mental illnesswhich. The disabled mentally ill in the united states rate of disabled mentally ill per year 1,000 population 1850. Anatomy of an epidemic audiobook by robert whitaker.
In december2017 robert whitaker visited israel for a festive book launching of the hebrew translation of his book anatomy of an epidemic which was originally published in english in 2010, following whitaker s first book mad in america, published in 2001. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america is a book by robert whitaker published in 2010. Full text of robert whitaker anatomy of an epidemic. There are now more than four million people in the united states who receive a government disability check because of a mental illness, and the number continues to soar. Anatomy of an epidemic this is a very important book. His newest book on this topic, anatomy of an epidemic. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of. Updated with bonus material, including a new foreword and afterword with new research, this new york times bestseller is essential reading for a time when mental health is constantly in the news. Anatomy of an epidemic investigates a medical mystery. Psychiatric drugs and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america. An epidemic of gargantuan proportions has been afoot for some time, according to robert whitaker, author of anatomy of an epidemic.
Send us your story about your experience with modern psychiatry. The roots robert whitaker psychiatric epidemic psykovision. Anatomy of an epidemic 2010 traces the development of mental health medications and the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and the field of psychiatry. In his new book anatomy of an epidemic, whitaker, a cambridgebased science writer, argues that drugs. Anatomy of an epidemic by robert whitaker, 9780307452429, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Disability numbers due to mental illness are soaring. Robert whitaker, a journalist, writes primarily about medicine and science. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read anatomy of an epidemic. Anatomy of an epidemic by robert whitaker blinkist. Anatomy of an epidemic is a splendidly informed, wonderfully readable corrective to the conventional wisdom about the biological basesand biological curesfor mental illness.
Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america crown publishers, 2010, begins with these data points. Apr, 2010 our nation has been hit by an epidemic of disabling mental illness, and yet, as anatomy of an epidemic reveals, the medical blueprints for curbing that epidemic have already been drawn up. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america ebook written by robert whitaker. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america new york. Robert whitaker, author anatomy of an epidemic youtube. His book anatomy of an epidemic won the 2010 investigative reporters and editors book award for best investigative journalism.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. But whitakers investigation also offers hope for the future. Although we, as a society, believe that psychiatric medications have revolutionized the treatment of mental illness, the disability numbers suggest a. The book has circulated widely, in large measure due to marcia angells. Psychiatric drugs cause permanent brain damage the bmj. This entry is for robert 2 whitaker, medical and science writer. Our society understands that the arrival of thorazine into asylum medicine in 1955 kicked off a. Weekly online readings posted on the blackboard website. Anatomy of an epidemic by robert whitaker 11032011 01. In this compelling history, whitaker also tells the personal stories of children and adults swept up in this. In the end, whitaker punches holes in the conventional wisdom of treatment of mental. Read anatomy of an epidemic magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america by robert whitaker available from rakuten kobo.
But whitaker s investigation also offers hope for the future. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america 2010, broadway paperbacks is how it can go from sheer brilliance to sheer lunacy within the same page. Jun 29, 2010 need to know asks robert whitaker, author of the recent book, anatomy of an epidemic, about his analyses of scientific studies and what they mean for the future of mental healthcare in this. For me, although i am somewhat skeptical about some of whitaker s assessments, i was incredibly pleased to find that somebody had written a book about the overprescription of psychotropic medications in this country. Robert whitaker talks about the downside to psychiatric. Mad in america, the mapmakers wife, on the laps of gods and anatomy of an epidemic. Do psychiatric medications fix chemical imbalances in the brain, or do they, in fact, create them. Praise for anatomy of an epidemicthe timing of robert whitakers anatomy of an epidemic, a comprehensive and highly readable history of psychiatry in the. Anatomy of an epidemic ebook by robert whitaker rakuten kobo. Our nation has been hit by an epidemic of disabling mental illness, and yet, as anatomy of an epidemic reveals, the medical blueprints for curbing that epidemic have already been drawn up. Praise for anatomy of an epidemic the timing of robert whitaker s anatomy of an epidemic, a comprehensive and highly readable history of psychiatry in the. Over the past 50 years, there has been an astonishing increase in severe mental illness in the united states. In this astonishing and startling audiobook, awardwinning science and history writer robert whitaker investigates a medical mystery. Mar 15, 20 his newest book on this topic, anatomy of an epidemic.
In 2010 robert whitaker published anatomy of an epidemic. Why i refuse to read anatomy of an epidemic healthyplace. Anatomy of an epidemic won the 2010 investigative reporters and editors book aware for best investigative journalism. I was so impressed by the book and so disgusted by what i feel is one of the most outrageous offenses perpetrated by the psychiatric profession, that i tracked him down and asked him a few questions. Contact the author for comments, input or corrections. Whitaker r 2010 anatomy of an epidemic magic bullets. This is the first book to look at the merits of psychiatric medications through the prism of longterm results. I wrote anatomy of an epidemic to investigate this epidemic, and this pursuit necessarily raises a very uncomfortable question. May 10, 2010 robert whitaker wants to start a national conversation about psychiatric medications. Why has the number of adults and children disabled by mental illness skyrocketed over the past fifty years.
Praise for anatomy of an epidemic the timing of robert whitaker s anatomy of an epidemic, a comprehensive and highly readable history of psychiatry in the united states, couldnt be better. The timing of robert whitaker sanatomy of an epidemic, a comprehensive and highly readable history of psychiatry in the. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america robert whitaker broadway books, 2011 medical 404 pages. I recently read anatomy of an epidemic by investigative journalist, robert whitaker, where he explores the merits of psychiatric medications. Whitaker contended that drugs do little to balance imbalanced brain chemistry. With americans popping psychiatric drugs like so many pieces of candy, youd think mental illness would have decreased since the first antipsychotic medication was approved in 1954. Anatomy of an epidemic robert whitaker download free ebook. In the solutions section of anatomy of an epidemic, whitaker describes how doctors in northern finland use antipsychotic drugs sparingly and in an extremely selective, cautious manner when treating firstepisode psychotic patients.
Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america, won the investigative reporters and editors book. Anatomy of an epidemic by robert whitaker mad in america by robert whitaker mad matters by brenda a. Fuller torrey, md treatment advocacy center founder in 2010 robert whitaker published anatomy of an epidemic. Magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in america see other formats. The disability rates for 1850 through 1955 are based on the number of hospitalized mentally ill, as cited by e. Ho bc, andreasen nc, ziebell s, pierson r, magnotta v. Anatomy of an epidemic challenges readers to think through that question themselves. Jun 05, 2012 many people here have read robert whitakers anatomy of an epidemic. He has a clear and efficient writing style that communicates very well to readers with a basic familiarity related to psychotropic medication and mental health diagnosis. It confirms what many of us have believed about psychiatric drugs for a long time.