The Myth of the Chemical Cure - Healthy Life Essex

30th November, 4pm. University of Essex. Colchester Campus.

A research seminar:

Prof Joanne Moncrieff
Senior Lecturer in Social & Community Psychiatry
University College London

Joanne Moncrieff exposes the traditional view that psychiatric drugs correct chemical imbalances as a dangerous fraud. She traces the emergence of this view and the way it supported the vested interests of the psychiatric profession, the pharmaceutical industry and the modern state. Instead it is proposed that psychiatric drugs ‘work’ by creating abnormal brain states, which are often unpleasant and impair normal intellectual and emotional functions along with other harmful consequences. She examines the research evidence on antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilisers to demonstrate this thesis and it is suggested that acknowledging the real nature of psychiatric drugs would lead to a more democratic practice of psychiatry.

Please contact  Mel Hassack tel: 01206 872 854 if you would like to attend.