Page numbers printed in boldface type refer to tables or figures.
Acceptance, in context of mental illness,171, 172, 175–176, 177, 178
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT),152,
153Acute illness,138, 140–143
Addiction therapists, and advocacy,6
Addiction treatment center, and “family weekend,”118–119
Adolescentsage at onset of mental illness and,176
suicide and,99
Advocacy.
See also Mental illness
antipsychiatry debate and view of mental illness as myth,68–69
approach and structure of book,16–21
beginning steps in,7–9
blame for mental illness and,133
definition of mental illness and,35
endpoint of,185–186
evidence for biological basis of mental illness and,90–91
goals of,15–16
humility as important for,14–15
identity of advocates,5–7
motivations for,1–5
prevalence of mental illness and,50–51
recovery process and,181
seriousness of mental illness and,112–113
treatment and,158
Age.
See Adolescents; Older adults
Age at onset, of mental illness,176
Aging, influence of mental illness on,105, 107.
See also Older adults
Alcoholics Anonymous,131, 154,
156, 157, 172
Alcoholism, genetic studies of,80
Allergens, and inflammation,87
Alzheimer’s disease,99, 100
Antidepressants,82, 148.
See also Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Antipsychotics,149
Anxiety disordersgenetic studies of,80
prevalence of,41
stress and,129
Arthritis,141
Aspirin,150
Assertive community treatment (ACT),155,
156Asthma,141
Atlantic, The (magazine),3, 66
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),12, 80
Auditory hallucinations, and schizophrenia,77
Autism,88
Bacteria, in digestive system,87–88
Biofeedback,154,
155Biology, and biological researchdualistic thinking in views of mental illness and,10–11
evidence for role of in mental illness,88–90
treatment of mental illness and,147–151,
152Biopsychosocial-spiritual model, of mental illness,28, 33
Bipolar disorderbacteria in digestive system and,88
genetic studies of,80
inflammation and,87
risk of diabetes and,104
thyroid hormone and,85
Blame, and debates on mental illness,118–120, 122–127, 130–132
Blood pressure.
SeeHypertension
Body, and concept of mind in debates on mental illness,32–35
Brain.
See also Neuroscience revolution
dysfunction of and definition of mental illness,31
head scan studies and scientific basis of mental illness,75–78, 89
mental illness and complexity of,29
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),82
Brain-gut connection,87–88
Bright light therapy,151,
152British Psychological Society,3
Canceraccess to medical care for,5
decisions about treatment of,112
life expectancy of patients with mental illness and,104
prevalence of,48,
49Carbon dioxide, and panic attacks,83, 85
Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC),101
Chronic illnessage at onset of,176,
177treatment of mental illness and,138, 140–143
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT),152,
153,
155Cognitive remediation,154,
155Computed tomography (CT) scans,76
Computerized and smartphone-based psychotherapy,154,
155Cortisol, and role of stress in mental illness,86
COVID-19 pandemic,47
Crime, people with mental illness as victims of,126.
See also Prisons
Culturecontroversy on reality of mental illness and,108
of mental health professionals and contradictions in views of mental illness,2–3
Death, and chronic illnesses,142.
See also Life expectancy;Suicide
Decline, and mental illness,103–105, 107
Deep brain stimulation (DBS),151,
152Delirium,5
Depression.
See also Major depression
bacteria in digestive system and,88
blaming of patient for,126–127
brain-derived neurotrophic factor and,82
debates on mild versus severe mental illness and,13
inflammation and,87
as medical syndrome with multiple causes,109
risk of heart disease and,104
stress and,129
Diabetesaccess to medical care for,5
as chronic illness,141
decline and,104
medications for,150
mental illness and risk of,104
prevalence of,48,
49Diagnostic systems, and debates on mental illness,12, 56, 64, 110–111
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT),152,
153Diet, and treatment of mental illness,151,
152Digestive system, and brain-gut connection,87–88
Disability, and mental illness,102–103, 107
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs),102
Disease, and use of term syndrome in discussions of mental illness,109–112.
See also Acute illness;
Chronic illness; Medical illnessDistress, and definitions of medical and mental illness,30, 31
Dopamine, and reward center of brain,78,
79DSM.
See Diagnostic systems
Education, “see one, do one, teach one” approach to medical,16–17.
See also Learning; Psychoeducation
Efficacy, of treatment for mental illness vs. medical illness,144–146
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT),151,
152Empathy, in encounters with mental illness,168–169
Empowerment, importance of for effective advocacy,8
Endocrinology.
SeeHormones
Epidemiologic Catchment Area study,38
Epidemiology, of psychiatric disorders,38.
See also Prevalence
Estrogen,85
Exercise, benefits of for mental illness,151,
152Experience, and genetics of mental illness,128
Eye movement desensitization retraining and reprocessing (EMDR),153Faith-adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy (F-CBT),157
Family, and blame for mental illness,123–124.
See also Genetics
Family history, and prevalence of mental illness,45–46
Family therapy,156Food(s), and treatment of mental illness,151,
152Food and Drug Administration (FDA),148,
149Freud, Sigmund,2, 20, 188
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),76–78
Funding, and access to mental health care,5
Genetics, of mental illness,78–80,
81, 86, 127, 128, 133
Good life, concept of,178, 180
Gray matter, and structural imaging studies of mental illness,76
Griefmyths about mental illness and,175–176, 177, 178
suicide and,100–101
Group therapy,154–155,
156Guided self-help,154,
155Guilt, and “family weekend” at addictiontreatment center,118–119
Hartley, Mariette,188
Health care.
See Medical illness; Primary care physicians
Heart diseasedepression and risk of,104
prevalence of,48,
49sudden death and,101
Hippocampus,82
History, and historical contextabuse of people with mental illness,125–126
of debates on mental illness as myth,60, 68–69
stigma of mental illness and,187
Hormones, and mental illness,85–86
Huffington Post,13
Humility, as important in advocacy,14–15
Hypertensioncauses and treatment of,110
as chronic illness,141
medications for,150
prevalence of,48,
49Inflammation, and mental illness,86–87
Influenza,43
Insurance, and access to mental health care,5
Internet, stress and use of,47.
See also Computerized and smartphonebased psychotherapy; Social media;
Urban DictionaryInterpersonal therapy (IPT),152,
153James, William,188
Jamison, Kay Redfield,188
Jung, Carl,186, 188
Learning, and genetic studies of mental illness,78–79
Life expectancy, and mental illness,104, 107
Linehan, Marsha,188
Lithium,148, 151
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),76,
83Major depression.
See also Depression
disability and,102
genetic studies of,80
hormones and,85, 86
inflammation and,86
microscopic studies of,82
risk of heart disease and,104
Mania, and responsibility,132
Mantra repetition,157
Media, coverage of mental health care,66.
See also Social media
Medical illness.
See also Cancer; Diabetes; Heart disease; Hypertension
biological dysfunction and,96
definition of,30
efficacy of treatment for mental illness and,144–146
mental illness as risk factor for,104
mental illness as type of,31, 74–75
prevalence of,48,
49reasons for concern about,97–98
stress and,130–131
Medical specialties, and psychiatry,11–12
Medications, psychiatric.
See also Antidepressants; Antipsychotics
biological treatments of mental illness and,148–150
dichotomies in views of mental illness and,11
efficacy of for mental illness,145–146
prescription of by primary care physicians,63
side effects of,150–151
treatment dilemma in selection of,111
Meditation,156,
157Meninger, Karl,188
Meninger, William,188
Mental Health America,124, 154
Mental health care.
See also Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Treatment
annual costs of,75
barriers to and inadequacy of,4–5
list of books critical of,60,
62, 63
negative experiences with and criticism of,67
relevance of antipsychiatry debate,65–66
risk of,96
Mental health professionals.
See also Psychiatrists
contradictions in views on mental illness and culture of,2–3
overdiagnosis and overprescription in criticisms of,56
rates of mental illness in,125
“us vs. them” dichotomy in discussions of mental illness,14
Mental health therapists, as advocates,6
Mental illness.
See also Advocacy; Mental health care; Patients; Prevalence; Treatment;
specificdisordersblame, shame, and guilt in responses to,118–120, 122–127, 130–132
brain-gut connection and,87–88
brain scans and scientific basis of,75–78
as chronic illness,143
complexity of brain and,29
decline and,103–105
definition of,18–19, 28, 31
disability and,102–103
dual mental and physical nature of,31–32
empathy in encounters with,168–169
evidence for biology of,88–90
examples of common types,32facing truth about,120–121
genetics of,78–80,
81, 127, 128
hormones and,85–86
inflammation and,86–87
microscopic studies of,82
mind and body duality in views of,32–35
myth of,59–61, 63–65, 172–176
neurotransmitters and,82–85
past dichotomies in views of,9–15
public opinions about,1, 4
reality of,105–112
recovery from,177–180
self-improvement and,172
sources of direct personal information on frequency of,39–40
stress and,46–47, 86, 127, 129
suicide and,98–101,
102summary of issues,186–188
as teacher,176–177
universal impact of,38
“us” vs. “them” in debates on,13–15, 167–168, 188–190
views of as fact or fiction,58–59
Migraine,110, 141
Mild mental illness, and severe mental illness,13
Mind, and concept of body in definition of mental illness,32–35
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT),153,
155, 157
Mood disorders, prevalence of,41.
See also Depression
Motivational enhancement therapy (MET),152,
153Motivational interviewing (MI),153Myth(s), and views of mental illness,59–61, 63–65, 66, 172–176
Myth of Mental Illness, The (Szasz 1961),58–61, 75
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),4, 6, 7, 67, 124, 154
National Comorbidity Surveys (NCS),38,
43,
44, 49
National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC),43,
44National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH),4, 6
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH),38,
43,
44, 49
Neurogenesis, and microscopic studies of mental illness,82
Neuroscience revolution, and debates on validity of psychiatry,60, 108
Neurotransmitters, and studies of mental illness,82–85
New England Journal of Medicine,3
New Yorker, The (magazine),3, 66
New York Times,3, 66
Norepinephrine, and panic attacks,83
Nucleus accumbens,78,
79Nurse practitioners,6
Obsessive-compulsive disorder,153
Older adults, and suicide,99.
See also Aging
Panic disorder,83, 85
Paranoia, and responsibility,132
Patients, with mental illnessblame for mental illness and,125–127
lessons from recovery of,179–180
therapeutic alliance and,166
Peer support,156Phobias,148, 153
Physical dysfunction, and medicalillness,30
Physical stress,129
Physician assistants,6
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans,76
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)blame and responsibility for,131
genetics of,128
hippocampus and,82,
83hormones and,86
medical illnesses and life expectancy,105
Poverty, and people with mental illness,126
Prayer, as therapy,157
Prevalence, of mental illnessadvocacy and,50–51
annual rates of,43–45
lifetime statistics on,40–42,
43, 47–50
question of increase in,45–47
Primary care physiciansas advocates,6
prescription of psychiatric medications by,63
Prisons, and people with mental illness,5, 126
Probiotics,88
Psychiatric Times,13
Psychiatrists.
See also Mental health care; Mental health professionals;
Psychiatryas advocates,6, 7
blame and image of “toxic,”124–125
overdiagnosis and overprescription in criticisms of,57–58
use of term,63
Psychiatry.
See also Mental health care; Psychiatrists
common criticisms of,62, 63–64
dichotomies in views of mental illness and,11–12
relevance of antipsychiatry debate,65–68
status of knowledge about and debates within,9–10
use of term,63
Psychiatry: The Science of Lies (Szasz 2008),60
Psychodynamic psychotherapy,152,
153Psychoeducation,154,
155Psychological stress,129
Psychologists, as advocates,6, 7
Psychologydualistic thinking in views of mental illness,10–11
treatment of mental illness and,151–154
Psychology Today,13
Psychosis,41, 76.
See also Schizophrenia
Psychotherapydebate on mental illness as both physical and mental,34
dichotomies in views of mental illness and,11
as treatment for mental illness,151–154,
155Public opinion, contradictions in beliefs about mental illness,1, 4
Reality, and myth in views of mental illness,173–174
Recovery, from mental illness,177–180
Refusal, of treatment for mental illness,132
Religion, and religious services,156,
157.
See also Spiritual practices
Residential and intensive outpatient treatment,156Resistance, and advocacy,51
Respect, for audience during advocacy,35
Responsibility, as issue in debates about mental illness,131–132
Reward center, of brain,78,
79Schizophreniabacteria in digestive system and,88
debates on mild vs. severe mental illness and,13
genetic studies of,80,
81, 128
hormones and,85
inflammation and,87
prevalence of,41
risk of diabetes and,104
schizophrenogenic mother theory and,123, 124
stress and,129
structural imaging and,76, 77
Science, as basis of psychiatry,63–64, 65, 68.
See also Neuroscience revolution
“Secondary gain,” and depression,127
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),149, 155
Self-improvement, and acceptance,172
Self-relaxation, as therapy,155Severe mental illness, and mild mental illness,13
Shrink, use of term in criticisms of psychiatrists,57, 139
Side effects, of medications for mental illness,150–151
Signs, use of term,109
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT),76–78
“Social construct,” view of mental illness as,34
Social factors, affect of on mental and physical health,33–34.
See also Social treatments
Social media,39, 47.
See also Internet
Social skills training,156Social support,154
Social treatments, for mental illness,154–155,
156Spartacus (movie 1960),189
Specific phobia,153
Spiritual practicesaffect of on mental and physical health,33–34
treatment of mental illness and,155–157
Stigmablame for mental illness and,123, 125
criticisms of psychiatry and,138
endpoint of advocacy and,185, 186, 187, 188
mental vs. medical illnesses and,168
mild vs. severe mental illness and,13, 14
in past views of mental illness,187
persistence of in public opinions on mental illness,4, 39, 118, 122
prevalence of mental illness and,45
Stresscauses of mental illness and,46–47, 127, 129, 130–131, 133
cortisol and neurobiology of,86
Structural imaging, and studies of mental illness,76
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
See National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Substance use disorders.
See also Addiction therapists; Addiction treatment center;Alcoholism
premature death and life expectancy,104
prevalence of,41, 45
Suicideadvocacy and statistics on,112
inflammation and seasonality of,87
mental illness as cause of,98–101,
102prisoners with mental illness and,126
Supported employment,155,
156Support groups,156Symptoms, use of term,109
Syndrome, and use of term disease in discussions of mental illness,109–112
Szasz, Thomas,58–61, 68, 74, 75
Telomeres,105, 107
Therapeutic alliance,166
Thyroid hormone,85
Toxic Psychiatry: Why Therapy, Empathy, and Love Must Replace the Drugs, Electroshock, and Biochemical Theories of the “New Psychiatry” (Breggin 2015),124
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS),151,
152Treatment, of mental illness.
See also Medications; Mental health care; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy
alternatives to medication for,146–147
biological forms of,148–151,
152biological vs. psychological causes of mental illness and,147–148
distinction between acute and chronic illness in,138, 140–143
efficacy of for mental illnesses vs. medical illnesses,144–146
psychological forms of,151–154
responsibility for and refusal of,132
social forms of,154–155
Twelve-step programs,119, 154,
156, 157, 172
Twin studies, of genetics of mental illness,79–80,
81Urban Dictionary (online),58
“Us vs. Them,” as dichotomy in discussions of mental illness,13–15, 167–168, 188–190
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS),151,
152Visual aids, and advocacy,35, 51, 90
Walking, and complexity of brain,29,
30Watson, John,188
We’ve Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy—And the World’s Getting Worse (Hillman and Ventura 1993),124
Witch doctors, and criticisms of psychiatrists,57, 139
Years lived with disability (YLDs),102,
103