APA should change its name to BiPolar Association

[Guest guest]

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/15/39-b

Psychiatric News August 6, 2004

Volume 39 Number 15

© 2004 American Psychiatric Association

p. 39

Letters to the Editor

One-Trick Training?

Braiman, M.D.

Farmington, N.M.

After I received my 50-year distinguished fellow award at APA's 2004 annual

meeting in May, there was time for thought on the flight back to New Mexico

and my practice. APA has become a polarized organization, perhaps a

reflection of the larger society, but it has tilted too far toward the

advocacy of unsupported " biologic " diagnostic and treatment practices that

corrode its efficacy and leadership.

We have trained a generation of psychiatrists who are " one-trick ponies, "

with no arrows in their quiver after pharmacy and " rational polypharmacy "

fail their patients. Perhaps that is why we are so threatened now that New

Mexico and Louisiana have granted prescription privileges to psychologists.

It is ironic that we are witnessing serious challenges to the scientific

integrity of studies supporting the FDA approval of the SSRI class of

antidepressants at a time when an unsilent majority of us go along with the

pretense that this is evidence-based psychiatry. The editors of Lancet wrote

in the April 4 issue that " selective reporting of favourable research should

be unimaginable. "

It is too easy to fault the drug companies. There are too many of us whose

integrity has been compromised by grant support or honoraria for the rest of

us to be able to trust their advice. The late Engel, M.D., whom many

of us consider the primary advocate of the biopsychosocial approach, would

consider current statements about neuro-bio-chemical-genetic causality of

mental disorders regressive.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to continue to practice psychiatry

now that I am retired from teaching and lucky that I received my award

before the name of APA changes, perhaps to the American Bipolar Association.

F. Prior

Mental Health Advocate

Chicago, IL 60656-1639

T: 773/774-6696 or 800/654-1215 F: 801/848-3451

E: jprior@... W: www.lgln.com (under construction)

[Guest guest]

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/15/39-b

Psychiatric News August 6, 2004

Volume 39 Number 15

© 2004 American Psychiatric Association

p. 39

Letters to the Editor

One-Trick Training?

Braiman, M.D.

Farmington, N.M.

After I received my 50-year distinguished fellow award at APA's 2004 annual

meeting in May, there was time for thought on the flight back to New Mexico

and my practice. APA has become a polarized organization, perhaps a

reflection of the larger society, but it has tilted too far toward the

advocacy of unsupported " biologic " diagnostic and treatment practices that

corrode its efficacy and leadership.

We have trained a generation of psychiatrists who are " one-trick ponies, "

with no arrows in their quiver after pharmacy and " rational polypharmacy "

fail their patients. Perhaps that is why we are so threatened now that New

Mexico and Louisiana have granted prescription privileges to psychologists.

It is ironic that we are witnessing serious challenges to the scientific

integrity of studies supporting the FDA approval of the SSRI class of

antidepressants at a time when an unsilent majority of us go along with the

pretense that this is evidence-based psychiatry. The editors of Lancet wrote

in the April 4 issue that " selective reporting of favourable research should

be unimaginable. "

It is too easy to fault the drug companies. There are too many of us whose

integrity has been compromised by grant support or honoraria for the rest of

us to be able to trust their advice. The late Engel, M.D., whom many

of us consider the primary advocate of the biopsychosocial approach, would

consider current statements about neuro-bio-chemical-genetic causality of

mental disorders regressive.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to continue to practice psychiatry

now that I am retired from teaching and lucky that I received my award

before the name of APA changes, perhaps to the American Bipolar Association.

F. Prior

Mental Health Advocate

Chicago, IL 60656-1639

T: 773/774-6696 or 800/654-1215 F: 801/848-3451

E: jprior@... W: www.lgln.com (under construction)

[Guest guest]

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/15/39-b

Psychiatric News August 6, 2004

Volume 39 Number 15

© 2004 American Psychiatric Association

p. 39

Letters to the Editor

One-Trick Training?

Braiman, M.D.

Farmington, N.M.

After I received my 50-year distinguished fellow award at APA's 2004 annual

meeting in May, there was time for thought on the flight back to New Mexico

and my practice. APA has become a polarized organization, perhaps a

reflection of the larger society, but it has tilted too far toward the

advocacy of unsupported " biologic " diagnostic and treatment practices that

corrode its efficacy and leadership.

We have trained a generation of psychiatrists who are " one-trick ponies, "

with no arrows in their quiver after pharmacy and " rational polypharmacy "

fail their patients. Perhaps that is why we are so threatened now that New

Mexico and Louisiana have granted prescription privileges to psychologists.

It is ironic that we are witnessing serious challenges to the scientific

integrity of studies supporting the FDA approval of the SSRI class of

antidepressants at a time when an unsilent majority of us go along with the

pretense that this is evidence-based psychiatry. The editors of Lancet wrote

in the April 4 issue that " selective reporting of favourable research should

be unimaginable. "

It is too easy to fault the drug companies. There are too many of us whose

integrity has been compromised by grant support or honoraria for the rest of

us to be able to trust their advice. The late Engel, M.D., whom many

of us consider the primary advocate of the biopsychosocial approach, would

consider current statements about neuro-bio-chemical-genetic causality of

mental disorders regressive.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to continue to practice psychiatry

now that I am retired from teaching and lucky that I received my award

before the name of APA changes, perhaps to the American Bipolar Association.

F. Prior

Mental Health Advocate

Chicago, IL 60656-1639

T: 773/774-6696 or 800/654-1215 F: 801/848-3451

E: jprior@... W: www.lgln.com (under construction)

[Guest guest]

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/15/39-b

Psychiatric News August 6, 2004

Volume 39 Number 15

© 2004 American Psychiatric Association

p. 39

Letters to the Editor

One-Trick Training?

Braiman, M.D.

Farmington, N.M.

After I received my 50-year distinguished fellow award at APA's 2004 annual

meeting in May, there was time for thought on the flight back to New Mexico

and my practice. APA has become a polarized organization, perhaps a

reflection of the larger society, but it has tilted too far toward the

advocacy of unsupported " biologic " diagnostic and treatment practices that

corrode its efficacy and leadership.

We have trained a generation of psychiatrists who are " one-trick ponies, "

with no arrows in their quiver after pharmacy and " rational polypharmacy "

fail their patients. Perhaps that is why we are so threatened now that New

Mexico and Louisiana have granted prescription privileges to psychologists.

It is ironic that we are witnessing serious challenges to the scientific

integrity of studies supporting the FDA approval of the SSRI class of

antidepressants at a time when an unsilent majority of us go along with the

pretense that this is evidence-based psychiatry. The editors of Lancet wrote

in the April 4 issue that " selective reporting of favourable research should

be unimaginable. "

It is too easy to fault the drug companies. There are too many of us whose

integrity has been compromised by grant support or honoraria for the rest of

us to be able to trust their advice. The late Engel, M.D., whom many

of us consider the primary advocate of the biopsychosocial approach, would

consider current statements about neuro-bio-chemical-genetic causality of

mental disorders regressive.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to continue to practice psychiatry

now that I am retired from teaching and lucky that I received my award

before the name of APA changes, perhaps to the American Bipolar Association.

F. Prior

Mental Health Advocate

Chicago, IL 60656-1639

T: 773/774-6696 or 800/654-1215 F: 801/848-3451

E: jprior@... W: www.lgln.com (under construction)