Robert Whitaker’s Anatomy of an Epidemic, and Mad in America

Chapter 16
Pages 331 - 359
Blueprints for Reform

Examples of some of the possible policy/practice implications found in Whitaker’s two books: (This list is not in any special order with respect to importance or presumed
significance.)

New practice policies/practice formulations relating to psychiatric medications.

Solutions – When and how should they be used for health and safety.

Acknowledge the possibility that the biological causes of mental disorders continue to remain unknown. Present certainty leaves no room for error and causes providers to have too little humility with patients.

Why not consider the real possibility that psychiatric drugs, rather than fixing chemical imbalances in the brain, perturb the normal functioning of neurotransmitter pathways?

Acknowledge the possibility that current medications actually worsening long-term outcomes for a significant number of patients.

Prescribers still need to learn better ways to use the drugs more judiciously and wisely, and respect the need for some patients to be given alternative therapies, that don’t rely on medications or at least minimize their use.

To produce best results USE PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS IN A SELECTIVE, limited and CAUTIOUS MANNER (OR NOT AT ALL) Dr. David Healy writes on the history of psychiatry.

Acknowledge the possibility that some patients can recover naturally.

Many patients will improve with low doses.

Focus on the patients past successes, 337

Patients are more interactive without medications 338

Long term use of drugs increase the likelihood of chronicity and a shorter life span.

Lower initial dosages

Consider practice policies that relate to the gradual medication withdrawal during the early medication phase of treatment. Establish best practice temporal standards to

Ensure that the long range medication regimens have regular patient-centered stop/go assessments specifically relating to the pro and cons of drug continuation.

Develop and require greater patient education about the pros and cons of medication versus other therapeutic alternatives

Consider doing a longitudinal budget analysis of the comparative proportionality of the cost of medication and other forms of therapy.

Longitudinally tract to percent of those on medications vs. social and more natural therapies.

Consider the implications of Whitaker’s study findings in the context greater consumer rights relative to their informed consent, safety and welfare.

Consider implications for existing long-term treatment and care for those who are placed an on-going drug regimen/

Evaluate and perhaps stop the ever expansion of psychiatric boundaries. Mental Health Advocacy Project