Mind-Brain Problem

I recommend that Mr. Barber and all others who presume that brain and mind are precisely the same thing might read two books by the late Mortimer Adler: "The Difference of Man and the Difference It Makes" and "Intellect: Mind Over Matter." The analyses in these works can only be envied by every thinker on the subject, including the scientists.

Posted by: Howard Handlen | 4/12/08

Crudeness of our understanding- Shock treatments

This was a rich and informative piece. I would only make one small additional point in the direction of underlining how non- definitive our knowledge is in relation to 'cure' for depression. The fact is that for most severe cases of depression for which none of the new drugs work an admittedly more refined version of the , as it were 'primitive treatment' of shock treatments is still employed. No one understands why but shock treatments have saved people who seemed to be wholly devoid of any possibility of rescue. There is a moving presentation on TED given by Dr. Sherwin Nuland in which he explains how these treatments saved him from rock- bottom no-way- out depression.

Posted by: Shalom Freedman | 4/12/08

Cerletti's shocking omission

I very much enjoyed this provocative piece. It is a wonderful to read such sensible and skeptical views from a voice within the tribe. I was wondering though about a rather conspicuous omission from this otherwise comprehensive tracing of major themes of modern psychiatry. ECT and other forms of convulsive therapies are conspicuously missing. This is surprising considering particularly ECT's relative vindication and resurgence in recent years.

Posted by: pat farrell | 4/13/08

Thanks

Thanks for this impressively truthful essay-truth about our current practices in dealing with mental illnesses. We may be all deluded, thus suffering from collective mental illness, unless we are able to know what those practices are all about. The last thing we can wisely expect from the prosperous collaboration between the adamemia and the industry, it seems, is the cure of the suffering and the genuine care of those who suffer.

Posted by: Euclid | 4/13/08

Neither pro nor con, just a few thoughts

1. Perhaps biological psychiatry is every much a placebo as is a sugar pill. 2. Sugar pills seem to lack the broad range of deleterious side effects attributed to psychoactive medications. 3. With ninety percent of the cells in the brain being glial cells providing nutrition and protection to the neurons, perhaps it is more proper to view alleged neuronal dysfunctions as symptomatic of poor glial-based nutrition. 4. Given the frequently established correlation between exercise and alleviation of (at least the symptoms of) depression, and given the correlation between exercise and increased circulation, oxygenation of the blood, blood flow to the brain, etc., perhaps 3. above is not as farfetched as it might at first seem to be.

Posted by: Glenn Schoen | 4/13/08

brain complexity

Enjoyed reading so rational and well-researched an account of the use of drugs. Most especially, the article clearly and credibly counters the media's treatment of brain imaging. I am reminded of Erasmus Darwin's level of knowledge and treatment of his patients when I read of the current treatment of mental illness and the level of understanding of how the brain works. Such a pity this article will never reach people through the mass media.

Posted by: joyce ozynski | 4/14/08

Pharmacologists are cautious

Medical chemist Derek Lowe blogs at "In The Pipeline". By reading his posts, you may see just how difficult and chancy the process of drug development is. Any living organism is mind-bogglingly complex and poorly understood, especially humans. Even when a drug works as intended, it may not have the desired effect. These researchers don't believe in "miracle cures". And yet there are real achievements. The placebo effect for antidepressants disappears with the most depressed patients, so they must be doing something.

Posted by: Rich Rostrom | 4/16/08

Psychiatry

We in New Zealand suffer doubly because the arch enemy of psychoanlysis Karl Popper resided here during WWII and was embraced wholeheartedly by the 'we can rationalise with the insane' because of our superior personality proponents of Kiwis can do anything school to the detriment of the psychic health of the whole nation. Sad but true!

Posted by: Randal | 4/16/08

Can't understand your meaning

I have read your comments several times and simply can't figure out what you are talking about with Karl Popper and the so-called can do anything approach of Kiwis. Can you express yourself in a way that is understandable? Thank you.

Posted by: Jane Elliott | 5/18/08

CBT for psychosis

CBT is not just for the 'worried well'. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/183/2/98

Posted by: Paul | 8/27/08

ECT

ECT - "Shock therapy" works by stimulating the production of antidepressant endorphans as a result of the epileptic siezure. It can be life-saving in selected cases. It was so widely misused that it earned a bad name, but remains a valid and effective treatment in selected cases. As with many other treatments, it was based on false premises - the inaccurate observation that epilepsy and depression did not co-exist. In spite of the fallacious underpinnings, it DOES work.

Posted by: Gnomon | 12/30/08

ECT

Electroshock Therapy works by interrupting electrical pathways in the brain. Using ECT as treatment in mental illness produced little of the over all desired results. That's why we don't use it anymore.

Posted by: http://www.iaqsource.com/aprilaire.php | 1/7/11