Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent [Paperback]

MD Grace E. Jackson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1420867423 | ISBN-13: 978-1420867428 | Publication Date: July 28, 2005

-- Are patients aware of the fact that pharmacological therapies stress the brain in ways which may prevent or postpone symptomatic and functional recovery ? ==================================================== Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Grace Jackson is a board certified psychiatrist who graduated summa cum laude from California Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, as well as a Masters Degree in Public Administration. She earned her Medical Degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 1996 and completed her internship and residency while in the U. S. Navy. Following her service as a staff psychiatrist at Bethesda Naval Hospital, she worked in the North Carolina prison system. Dr. Jackson has lectured widely in the United States and Europe, and has testified as an expert witness in forced medication trials. Her interests include philosophy, history, politics, and law.

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (July 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420867423
• ISBN-13: 978-1420867428
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book Could Save Lives, August 13, 2005

By 

carolyn moody - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent (Paperback)

A one-of-a-kind book that does not to presume to say "do or don't". Impeccably researched, it is a must read for anyone interested in the undisclosed facts about many psychiatric medications: namely, how they stress the brain and create life-long patients. Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent is presented succinctly, is easily read and broken down for the layman or professional. Lest the reader lose hope, the book also presents "evidence based" literature which demonstrates the existence of safe and effective alternatives to psychiatric drugs.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychiatric Drugs--Mostly Placebos, August 13, 2005

By 

Medical School Professor (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent (Paperback)

Very highly recommended. After obtaining data through the Freedom of Information Act from the FDA, Dr. Irving Kirsch did an analysis of the 6 most widely used antidepressant drugs. It found that on average they only have an 18% effect over and above placebo effects. Given the side effects, expense, and withdrawal syndrome, these kinds of findings should cause everyone to reevaluate reliance on medication treatment. There are similar findings with anxiety medications, and shockingly, the average ritalin follow-up study is only 3 weeks long. However, tne multi-billion dollar drug companies have tremendous influence on psychiatry and the FDA. The public must realize that FDA approval for a drug only requires 2 controlled studies showing a statistical significance over a placebo, and there is no limit on how many other studies have been done that found no positive effect. Although medications can certainly play a role in treatment, this book will inform the public and mental health professionals alike on how over-rated medication treatment is.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What The Mental Health System Doesn't Want You To Know, August 18, 2005

By 

Mary G. Madrigal - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent (Paperback)

Dr. Grace Jackson has done an excellent job in engaging and capturing the reader's attention beginning with the Prologue and ending with the epilogue... Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent.... as Emeril would say.... BAM!!! Job well done.

The structure of the book is well organized; the headings are clearly defined with supporting data, statistics, and content. The size of font and spacing are excellent ... I appreciate that the paragraphs are not lengthy and made for easy reading.

The book is a worthy reference manual. literally... each line led me to want to read more. more .. faster and faster.. I did not find myself having to ask, what am I reading? What is this author trying to tell me?

Most of chapters are short (7,8,9-are longer chapters), concise, clearly outlined, digestible, revelant, not awkward or overly complicated, and they flow.

Beginning with chapters 4 to 9 Dr. Jackson provides a variety of scientific studies, visual aids, tables, and comparison studies, which substantiate the content of her book.

I appreciate that Dr. Jackson deciphers and explains the comprehensive data for the non-scientific mind in chapters
4 to 9

As a mental health professional, Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent has now equipped me with some vital information to be a more effective clinician.

A hundred thanks you, Dr. Jackson!!!