Editorial Review

When the author began taking Prozac in 1988 she was 26 and had already struggled for over a decade with hospitalizations, suicide attempts, anorexia, and self-mutilation resulting from a variety of mental illnesses, obsessive-compulsive disorder the most recent among them. The newly released drug liberated her from debilitating anxiety and pain even as it raised unsettling questions about her own identity, as she had always been defined by her afflictions. "The world as I had known it my whole life did not seem to exist," writes Slater in a characteristically incisive sentence. She was happier, but she found it difficult to write without the inner voices that had sparked her fevered creativity; even the philosophy books she had once loved now seemed irrelevant to her newly healthy state.With utter candor (even about her dampened sexuality) and a surprising amount of humor, Slater chronicles the ups and downs of life on Prozac. A nightmarish relapse when the dosage suddenly proves inadequate ("Prozac poop-out") ultimately helps her discover inner resources to combat her illness in conjunction with the medication. She finds new love and a better understanding of her past; she avoids the equally unrealistic extremes of Prozac boosters who ignore the drug's costs and doomsayers who depict it creating a generation of zombies. Slater's balanced final assessment is voiced, as usual, in exact, lyrical prose: "This is Prozac's burden and gift, keeping me alive to the most human of questions, bringing me forward, bringing me back, swaddling and unswaddling me, pushing me to ask which wrappings are real." Read more

Reviews (39)

Inspirational story
This book follows the story of learning, recovering, and adjusting of a woman, confused
effective, honest, scary
well written.scary details about mental illness.both scary w/ respect to what i might see in myself and what exceeds greatly in a dystopic fashion what i see in myself.is a testament to how well prozac can work, and in that fashion, this memoir is quite effective and honest, although some may call it "over salted" (as Hamlet didn't want his plays to be like over salted dishes.)

A Worthy Addition To The Genre
Lauren Slater's 1999 memoir Prozac Diary is a worthy addition to the "women and madness" genre or for the millions currently taking antidepressants.What makes Slater's book a standout, though, is that it's the experience of one of the first people to use Prozac for depression. Slater writes her diary ten years after she first started taking the drug regularly in 1988, so we get to read of the long-term affects of daily dosing and how the drug changed her life over time.What was most interesting about Slater's story is how she had to learn to live life as a no-longer-depressed person.Her entire life, depression and its consequences dominated her life, gave her life meaning and routine, and defined who she was.When the "Zac" started working, she struggled to develop a new sense of herself, separate and apart from the depressed Lauren.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Case studies    4. Chemotherapy    5. Depression    6. Fluoxetine    7. General    8. Mental illness    9. Mentally ill    10. Psychology    11. Social Scientists & Psychologists    12. Specific Groups - Special Needs    13. United States    14. Medical / Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology    15. Reading Group Guide   

Subjects:  1. Environmental Science    2. Medical    3. Medical / Nursing    4. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    5. Toxicology    6. Medical / Toxicology    7. Medical toxicology    8. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Clinical Psychology    2. Medical social work    3. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    4. Social Science    5. Social Work    6. Sociology    7. Pharmacology    8. Psychiatry   

Reviews (4)

Read this book!
this book is an excellent primer to understanding the many incarnations of psychedelic experience.
well written approach to psychedelic therapy
Very well written. Masters and Houston provide a description of what I would call their skeptically optimistic approach to psychedelic therapy.
Informative, eye-opening view of the psychedelic experience
Huston and Masters give a well detailed and extremely fair minded account of the psychedelic experience, primarily via LSD sessions that were recorded by observers who were trained in psychology.The book covers the myriad aspects of "the trip" from perceptions of the human body to the deep religious experience.Read more

Subjects:  1. Drug Guides    2. LSD (Drug)    3. Medical    4. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    5. Psychology    6. Drug addiction & substance abuse    7. Medical / Drug Guides   

Reviews (1)

inaccurate
The chapter on yage (ayahuasca) is inaccurate, confusing smokable dmt with ayahuasca. Some research would have revealed the extensive healing claims for the tea ayahuasca, which sometimes contains negligible amounts of dmt yet produces effects.Thousands of years of use and currently thousands of indigenous and western users have produced a large volume of literature on this substance, a brief "google" search would have revealed many sources Dr. Spinella could have used to gain a more accurate understanding of yage than the shallow and inaccurate treatment he gave in his book. The effects of the tea yage do not wear off in 15 minutes, it lasts 1-2 hours; smokable dmt wears off in 15 minutes. I did not read the rest of the book, but this level of scholarship did not inspire me to. I hate to see misinformation being given to professionals, this chapter should be revised. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Herbal Medications    4. Herbs    5. Medical    6. Pharmacology    7. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    8. Psychopharmacology    9. Psychotropic plants    10. Therapeutic use    11. Psychiatry    12. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Reviews (10)

Get Ready To Get Mad
Healy is the world's foremost authority on psychopharmacology.The first part of this book (Introduction) is 39 pages and gives a most useful overview of depression's "history," the history of tranquilizers, the discovery of serotonin and chemical imbalances (which he calls a silly myth), SSRIs, etc. The book is also excellent on the marketing of antidepressants. This is where you might get upset as it becomes clear the marketing strategy involves very purposeful distortions of the truth and outright lies. His information about "ghostwriting" (when the drug company actually writes the journal article, not the drug researcher whose name appears on the article) is astonishing. I had read my medical journals for many years without ever even being aware this ever occurred. Healy describes his own experiences where the drug companies have tried to pay him for allowing his name to go on their "research" studies. He believes this is a much greater problem with antidepressants than with other classes of drugs. If all the book were as strong as the Introduction or the ghostwriting and marketing material I would give it five stars. However, he gives a lot of detail about his own experiences which is "why is this in the book?" kind of material. A more general book that is the best thing I have read yet on the antidepressant/antipsychotic topic is America Fooled. It is easy to understand but referenced as well as Healy's books (and I didn't think anyone could match Healy). We are fortunate to have Healy write this and his other books as he speaks from personal experiences and is a giant in the field.

A Disturbing Peak Inside the Machinations of the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Complacency of the Psychiatric Community
Dr. David Healy's Let Them Eat Prozac is packed with painstakingly referenced information.The book is deceptively panoramic in scope, ranging from ghost written article/adverts in medical journals masquerading as science, to how the line between the psychiatric community and the pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly blurred.Healy diligently documents how society has been inundated with information regarding the newest and `most proficient' pharmaceuticals, and how it has been increasingly difficult of late to separate legitimate scientific observations from the highly evolved marketing the industry has used to engage the public.
Disturbing, somewhat useful, murky
This important book undermines its effectiveness by jumbling together several distinct story lines:
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Consumer Health    4. Depression    5. Health Care Issues    6. Industries - Manufacturing Industries    7. Psychiatry - General    8. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    9. DEPRESSION, MENTAL    10. FLUOXETINE    11. NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY    12. PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY    13. Pharmaceutical industries    14. Pharmacology    15. Psychology / Depression   

Reviews (5)

A must read!!!
Omeara has gathered a fabulous body of evidence that would definitely convict the pseudo-science of psychiatry. Her style is incisive, and her research is impressive. Her expose of the American Psychiatric Association, the FDA, the pharmaceutical companies, and psychiatry in general delivers a stake in the heart to this corrupt trio that has been manipulating the public and preying on their vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, The FDA has become lapdog for the pharmaceutical companies instead of a watchdog, since the passing of the PDUFA Act that has enabled them to receive money ($500,000 worth per drug) from the pharmaceutical companies to have the medication rapidly approved. They are in cahoots with these global corporations and the APA, in a concerted effort to pathologize everyone, medicalize behavior, and sell a $3.00 pill for a consumeristic society seeking immediate gratification and looking for a fast fix. The American Psychiatric Association has created a bogus consensual manual, the DSM that promotes alleged mental illnesses, which fit the armament of medications available on the market. Many of the consultants and designers of this manual are on the payroll of the pharmaceutical companies (according to a recent and elaborate study in the journal of psychotherapy and pychosomatics). This fraud has engendered billions of dollars in profits for the corporations involved as well as for the APA and the field of psychiatry.
Appropriate Outrage
Kelly O'Meara is a woman after my own heart.This book really grabbed me with its outrage, the response that matches my own to the insidious collusion of interests between psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry.She is so right to point out that the problem really starts with the flawed diagnostic paradigm arrived at through consensus rather than science that is designed to sell mental illness rather than alleviate suffering.The psycho-pharma grip on our society all stems from this.This is an outstanding primer on the whole issue of how terribly fooled we are regarding "brain disease" and the treatments we have embraced that are in fact so dangerous and toxic to our health.I hope this book will be widely read and absorbed.

All Parents and Teachers Should Read This Book!
I have not purchased this book yet. However, I read numerous articles that O'Meara wrote for Insight Magazine on this subject. Her analysis and documentation has always been excellent and I am confident you will find the same in this book.
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Subjects:  1. Mental Illness    2. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    3. Psychology    4. Psychology & Psychiatry Profession - General   

Reviews (1)

Good, but cautious
This is a good book on current practice of methadone and other opioid agonist therapy, but it is very cautious about innovations in treatment (or a return to the more effective Dole-Nyswander model) like adequate dosing,use of other drugs and other therapuetic interventions. An excellent reviewof cost effectiveness. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drug Addiction (Psychiatric Aspects)    2. Drug abuse    3. Drug addiction    4. Methadone maintenance    5. Neurology - General    6. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    7. Psychology    8. Psychopathology - Addiction    9. Psychotherapy - General    10. Treatment    11. Addiction & therapy    12. Clinical psychology    13. Pharmacology   

Reviews (1)

A survey of the advantages and disadvantages of drug vs. talk therapies in light of neurological realities
F. Scott Kraly's Brain Science And Psychological Disorders: Therapy, Psychotropic Drugs, And The Brain explains how brain chemistry affects behavior, explaining the complex possibilities of neurobiology and drug therapies to explore what happens in the brain of one suffering a debilitating psychological disorder. While it all sounds like readers would need a degree to understand the basics, the beauty of Brain Science And Psychological Disorders is that no advanced knowledge is needed, allowing general- interest audiences a survey of the advantages and disadvantages of drug vs. talk therapies in light of neurological realities.
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Subjects:  1. Brain    2. Diseases    3. Neuropsychiatry    4. Neuropsychology    5. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    6. Psychology    7. Psychotherapy - General    8. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

An outstanding study of the human mind
Psychedelic Horizons by Thomas B. Roberts (Professor in the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and foundations at Northern Illinois University) is an outstanding study of the human mind and what may actually be beneficially derived from the use of psychedelic experiences for the human mind, body, and overall cognitive process. Exploring the evidence of how psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences may boost the human immune system, Psychedelic Horizons provides readers with an informative comprehension of Stansislav Grof's view of the mind as a way to understand art, psychedelics adding new cognitive programs to our thinking skills, and an expansive redefinition of intelligence and what it means to be well-educated. Psychedelic Horizons is very highly recommended to psychology students and all non-specialist general readers, particularly those subversive in thought, for its stimulating and progressive thought and concept of the actualities of psychedelics and the human mind, psyche and thought.
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Subjects:  1. Medical    2. Medical / Nursing    3. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    4. Research    5. Research & Methodology    6. Drug-induced states    7. Medical / Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology    8. Medical/Research    9. Pharmacology    10. Psychology/Research & Methodology   

Subjects:  1. Buprenorphine    2. Drug addiction    3. General    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Methadone maintenance    6. Neurology - General    7. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    8. Psychology    9. Psychopathology - Addiction    10. Treatment    11. Medical / Neuroscience   

Subjects:  1. Aged    2. Aging    3. Drug Therapy    4. Geriatric psychopharmacology    5. Handbooks & Manuals    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Neurology - General    9. Pain Medicine    10. Psychiatry - General    11. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    12. Reference    13. metabolism    14. Geriatric medicine    15. Geriatric nursing    16. Pharmacology    17. Psychiatry    18. Specific disorders & therapies   

Subjects:  1. Chemotherapy    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Medical / Nursing    4. Medical protocols    5. Mental Disorders    6. Mental Illness    7. Neuropsychopharmacology    8. Practice Management    9. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    10. Psychology    11. Psychopharmacology    12. Psychotherapy - General    13. Pharmacology    14. Psychiatry    15. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Chemotherapy    3. Counseling of    4. Drug abuse    5. Drug addicts    6. Medical    7. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    8. Psychology    9. Psychopathology - Addiction    10. Psychotherapy - General    11. Reproductive Medicine & Technology    12. Addiction & therapy    13. Psychology & Psychiatry / Addictions    14. Addictions   

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Consultation-liaison psychiatr    3. Consultation-liaison psychiatry    4. General    5. Internal Medicine    6. Medical    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Mental Illness    9. Psychiatry - General    10. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    11. Psychiatry    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (1)

comprehensive and clear
This is the only sourcebook in the market that both explains in detail the action of neurotransmitters and considers the implication of that action on behaviour. Moreover it's a well written book worth the price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brain    2. Medical    3. Medical / Nursing    4. Neurology - General    5. Neuropsychopharmacology    6. Neuroscience    7. Neurotransmitter receptors    8. Neurotransmitters    9. Pathophysiology    10. Pharmacology    11. Psychopharmacology    12. Medical / Pharmacology    13. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology   

Reviews (1)

warning!
Smith Kline Beecham, produces "PAXIL" and they say that Paxil should NOT be used by children, adolescents or those over age 73! The reason that it should not be used by children and adolescents, (as statedby S.K.B.,) is that it needs much more double blind testing for this agegroup. Only one small such test has been done to date. It also has NOT beenapproved by the F.D.A.! The brain of a child differs from one of anadolescent. The brain of an adolescent differs from that of an adult. Sometranquelizers cause exiteability in children. Calif. state university atStanford also states that testing of these Seritonan Reuptake Inhibitorshave not had testing with children or adolescents. To prescribe suchmedication to children and /or adolescents is akin to child endangerment! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drugs - Adverse Effects    2. Medical    3. Neuropsychopharmacology    4. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    5. Psychology    6. Psychotropic Drugs    7. Side effects    8. adverse effects    9. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    10. Pharmacology    11. Psychiatry    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology   

Reviews (1)

Almost everything you need to know about NO & NOS techniques
This series of books are great for people who don't have the time or the resources to hunt down unfamilar protocols.This volume is fairly complete for current (and older) NO and NOS based techniques. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Enzymology    2. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Nitric Oxide    5. Physiological effect    6. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. physiology    10. Cellular biology    11. Science / Biology   

Subjects:  1. Geriatric psychopharmacology    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Pain Medicine    6. Pediatric psychopharmacology    7. Pharmacology    8. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    9. Psychopharmacology    10. Psychotropic Drugs    11. Clinical psychology    12. Psychiatry    13. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (2)

A Recommended Addition to any Social Worker's Bookshelf
In the coming years, the role of the social worker in the treatment of thementally ill will continue to grow.Books such as this help social workersto define their roles, which are critical ones.The mentally ill deservethe very best that the social work profession has to offer.Kia Bentleyand Joseph Walsh do a great job in compiling the information needed toensure that the collaboration between the social worker and patient is aninformed one.This book is a fitting start to a new century of moreeffective treatment of some of our most vulnerable citizens.

A Must Have Reference Book for Mental Health Professionals
This book is a wonderful product of the Decade of the Brain.Written by two concerned professionals in the social work field, it emphasizes that the medication of patients is a true partnership between the patient andprofessional.Only then will many patients truly comply with themedication that they would be better off taking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chemotherapy    2. Medical    3. Medical / Nursing    4. Mental Illness    5. Nursing - Psychiatric    6. Psychiatric social work    7. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    8. Psychopharmacology    9. Social Work    10. United States    11. Medical / Nursing / Psychiatric