"The Insanity Offense," E. Fuller Torrey
reviewed by Sue E. Estroff* By Any Means Necessary? By No Means Necessary E. Fuller Torrey’s most recent book, The Insanity Offense, continues his literary style of provocative, catastrophic language when referring to violent incidents attributable to people with psychiatric disorders. This is not a work in the scholarly convention. It is one activist psychiatrist’s impassioned and purposeful argument for a reversion of mental health law, policy, and treatment to the 1950’s when involuntary confinement and forced treatment qua medication...
Full Story | Topics: civil commitment, hospitals, legal, research | Comments (3)

"Shunned," by Graham Thornicroft
reviewed by Jean Arnold
Anti-stigma activist Jean Arnold reviews a new book about bias and the author's suggestions for how to address it.

Full Story | Topics: advocacy, stigma | Comments (0)

"Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness," by Julian Leff and Richard Warner
by Mark Ragins, MD
A book for "readers who are already inspired and passionate workers, advocates, or searchers in our world of mental illness. You’ll have more meat on your bones," says Ragins.
Full Story | Topics: recovery, therapies, workplace | Comments (0)

"Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy," by Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye
reviewed by Sigurd Ackerman, MD
ECT has been alternately hailed as a medical miracle and denounced as a dehumanizing punishment. For author Kitty Dukakis, despite its risks and the side effects, it was the most successful therapeutic intervention she experienced in decades of fighting depression.
Full Story | Topics: depression, recovery, therapies | Comments (0)

"Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness," by Joshua Wolf Shenk
reviewed by Phyllis Vine
Within the context of a supportive community and watchful friends, part of Abraham Lincoln's courage came from the humility he acquired in his battles with depression and melancholy.
Full Story | Topics: depression, recovery | Comments (0)