The Marketing of Madness: Are We All Insane?
The Marketing of Madness is the definitive documentary on the psychiatric drugging industry. Here is the real story of the high income partnership between psychiatry and drug companies that has created an $80 billion psychotropic drug profit centre.
But appearances are deceiving. How valid are psychiatrists’ diagnoses – and how safe are their drugs? Digging deep beneath the corporate veneer, this three-part documentary exposes the truth behind the slick marketing schemes and scientific deceit that conceal dangerous and often deadly sales campaigns.
In this film you'll discover that... Many of the drugs side effects may actually make your ‘mental illness’ worse. Psychiatric drugs can induce aggression or depression. Some psychotropic drugs prescribed to children are more addictive than cocaine. Psychiatric diagnoses appears to be based on dubious science. Of the 297 mental disorders contained with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, none can be objectively measured by pathological tests.
Mental illness symptoms within this manual are arbitrarily assigned by a subjective voting system in a psychiatric panel. It is estimated that 100 million people globally use psychotropic drugs.
The Marketing of Madness exposes the real insanity in our psychiatric ‘health care’ system: profit-driven drug marketing at the expense of human rights.
This film plunges into an industry corrupted by corporate greed and delivers a shocking warning from courageous experts who value public health over dollar.
Spoiler alert. This is not a documentary but thinly disguised anti-psychiatry propaganda.
If anybody that doubts this film obviously they have not been affected by this abusive death culture which destroys in the aim of helping so-called illness. The do no evil or do no damage principle is clearly not followed by these industries nor by any medico that prescribes these medicines in particular for young people or children.
While many of the points made are on target, many are extreme and misleading, which ultimately discredits the very position the film seems to want to make. I say "seems to" because this was produced by an organization, the CCHR, which was created and is controlled by Scientology, and their anti-psychiatry efforts have had the effect of actually discrediting the more legitimate critics of psychiatry. Those of us working from a harm reduction, pro-choice, and client-centered perspective find we are discredited by association with perspectives such as those found in this film. So I encourage you to connect with the legitimate movement critiquing psychiatry, and not to buy into Scientology. A more heart centered and rational critique, committed to truth, is much more powerful than a cult agenda driven propaganda approach. The sooner Scientology gets out of the way the sooner legitimate voices critiquing psychiatry can be heard.
Ide like to talk to the producer..the goverment is actually funding isis through 5150..the gov.pays 1000$ a day for people to sit in a little room...they kept a girl in a mentalhealth to keep her in line for her isis loving ex..they kept hertherec42 daysand received 42.000$ a downpayment on a house..our redding ca mentalhealth have used the equiptment isis built in the united states to murder over 50 thousand peoples brains..the same eqiptment is in isis tunnels..so mentalhealth work for isis..the gov pays mentalhealth ..= our gov paying for isis to kill us in our own country after theyve properly harvested the poor organs to fix the working class
If I could give this film a zero out of 10, I would. I'm betting the two good reviews it got here were from Scientologists, considering that they produced this crap. I don't think psychiatry is without its faults, and I think the rest of the medical profession needs to demand more accountability from psychiatry and that hard data from repeatable research will, over time, determine which psychiatric treatments work and which don't. But I want data on that, and NOT from scientologists or their supporters! They're nutcases, and their assertions are neither plausible nor backed up by peer reviewed research. This is a jeremiad riddled with assertions, nothing more, and richly deserves contempt. But it certainly doesn't deserve your time or any of your money.
I stopped watching this right at the criticism of DSM. To be diagnosed by DSM for depression : You have had an episode of depression lasting at least two weeks with at least five of the following symptoms: (1) You are depressed, sad, blue, tearful. (2) You have lost interest or pleasure in things you previously liked to do. (3) Your appetite is much less or much greater than usual and you have lost or gained weight. (4) You have a lot of trouble sleeping or sleep too much. (5) You are so agitated, restless, or slowed down that others have begun to notice. (6) You are tired and have no energy. (7) You feel worthless or excessively guilty about things you have done or not done. (8) You have trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions. (9) You feel you would be better off dead or have thoughts about killing yourself. AND These symptoms are severe enough to upset your daily routine, or to seriously impair your work, or to interfere with your relationships. AND The depression does not have a specific cause like alcohol, drugs, medication side effect, or physical illness. AND Your depression is not just a normal reaction to the death of a loved one.
The documentary was saying everyone fits into these categories. Sorry but thats a lie. People should use their digression - If you fit this i would suggest first seeing a psychologist or talking to a friend to get some clarity on the reason why you may be feeling this way, however if you feel in desperate need for an escape go to the psychiatrist who will give you some drugs that will hopefully only be needed for a short period of time until your body naturally can cope on its own.
Psychiatrists are trained in medicine first so thats what they know - they will try and fix problems using medicine which isn't always the best way however sometimes is appropriate. The reason they prescribe so much is because thats what their job is - if you want someone to talk about your problems with go to a friend or family member however if it something out of their hands and you don't know how to handle it try a psychologist.
DSM is very good - if someone is prescribing you medication and not using DSM I would think critically about their motives and look into side effects and misuse of the drug.
This documentary is just so 1 sided its ridiculous - its actually an incredibly unscientific way of looking at what we know.
My state representatives received this DVD in the mail. I viewed it with one of them. This "documentary," made by one of the Church of Scientology's front organizations, is a boring, repetitious, and bizarre mix of highly selective information, rapid-fire mini-sound bites from people in the street repeating short phrases or single words (e.g. "bipolar" "Zoloft"), "experts" opinions, and ominously-colored and flashing graphs and numbers (e.g. millions of dollars) with portentous-sounding voice-overs. The message is that psychiatry is a mercenary hoax threatening everyone and that psychiatric medications have no good effects and kill lots of people. Since the film provides no research supporting claims made in the film and the "experts'" credentials — and even, in many cases, their actual positions regarding psychiatry — seemed dubious, I looked for facts online. I was saved considerable time because someone else had already checked all the presenters that could be found and had written them asking if they were aware of the nature of the film they appeared in, providing them with the minutes where their comments appeared so that they could check to see what was included in the film. Some seem to have responded. I found an extensive article by University of Texas bioethicist Dr. Howard Brody who appears often in the film. In his article he expresses his positive opinion of psychiatry and psychotropic medication and presents a clear and careful analysis of the entire film. I can't include the URL but it isn't hard to find. I also found a statement by a state representative from another state about how he narrowly escaped publicly endorsing Scientology's anti-psychiatry position, explaining, "They misled me." (not by this film, however). There may be a good documentary somewhere about the very real problems with the pharmaceutical industry: the profiteering, the way they advertise, conflicts of interest by professionals, etc., — but this isn't it. This video merely promotes Dr. Thomas Szasz's incorrect ideas from his half-century old book in complete ignorance of facts and sound subsequent research.
I need a pill because I'm addicted to topdocumentaryfilms. Very informative & I believe every single word of it, every other t.v programming commercial is are you sad? Here take this are you shaking your leg you have shaking leg syndrome. The side effects include insomnia overeating, tiredness, lazy, lack of achieving your goals today. Hateful toward family and family pets. Thoughts of suicide, drinking too much coffee. But remember we're here to help. Oh by the way does your child want to play outside? Here's a pill for him/her.
This was a very good documentary I give it a 10/10. I like the way they answer questions that usually come up while seeing the doc, also there is a lot of interviews meaning this took time to put together.
Oh, I GET IT! Ignorance=Truth. I forgot. Thank-you, Orwell.
This documentary applies to the pharmaceutical industry in general -- not just the mental disorder aspect, but overall -- virtually all their poisons are overprescribed, toxic and peddled by a corrupt entity
I am 16 years old and suffer from Depression, OCD, GAD, Panic Disorder, and Trichotillomania. I was hospitalized 5 times for depression and anxiety between 14 and 15 years old. I felt like a guinea pig- when one drug didn't work, they fed me another one. I had no say in the medications, and I was forced to take them, even if I did not want them. I was prescribed Prozac at age 13, which lead to my first hospitalization. During my stays there, psychiatrists whom I had never met prescribed Lexapro, Trazadone, Abilify, Prazocin, Lamotrigine, Zoloft, and Risperdol. The last one, Risperdal, was supposed to be a mood stabilizer. However, it made me very impulsive and irrational, and led to me gaining more than 30 lbs in less than a year. I am off of that awful drug now, and am still struggling to lose all the weight it made me gain. I am now on the highest dose of Zoloft I can take and Lamotrigine. I cannot wait until I am able to make my own choices and be off these drugs. I feel like nothing but harm has come to me from taking all these medications that supposedly help.
My only issue is that they never mention counseling or support groups as alternative to drug therapy.
i get this movies point but those drugs work without it i would have killed myself last year that i'm still on today and now i'm so happy my anxiety is disappearing i can actually were what i wanna were and say what i wanna say and do sports without freaking out and if its all about the money then how come it only cost me 4 bucks for prozac, ya i live in canada so they subsidise some meds but if it was just
about money than Psychiatric drugs wouldn't be part of that subsidy, they work and help. The people who die from it have no hope in it and already messed and convinced there's no hope when in reality its just there brain getting use to it, example: the first week i was sick the next 2 weeks i was extremely suicidal but i fought against those thoughts knowing that its just a side effect it will go away and it did sure i didn't feel different but after 4 months i got dexedrine for add to take with prozac i still take both today and i instantly noticed a difference its awesome to go to school and see all the teachers who lost hope in me faces of shock
Mental health doctors need to be pioneers like some are doing to push medical marijuana as a legal option; it matters more to have a quality of life than to submitt to what big business and textbooks call treatment. "The American Way" is poison to our minds.
The fight against bad psychiatry would have a lot more credibility if Scientology wasn't involved in it.
I was asked to appear in this documentary. After I told them I wanted it to be stated that I was not involved with the Church of Scientology, I did not hear from the producer again. I'm a sociological researcher and writer in the area of mental health. Though these drugs are vastly overprescribed, some people need them to live. The truth is that Big Pharma is evil - no surprises there - and unless science becomes a non-profit industry instead of a corporate empire, what do you expect? In our current world we have to start thinking for ourselves. Turn off the TV. And don't think all of these documentaries are all that much better, and by better I mean "not propaganda". Read the labels, for one. If you're too depressed to do so, you probably need an antidepressant, and Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Cymbalta, unlike SSRIs, most definitely work for many people. If you aren't, read the labels and decide for yourself what you're willing to go through in the future for the sake of your mental health, which is by no means a matter to be taken lightly. 20% of people with bipolar disorder die of suicide. There's no "conspiracy" about that.
Do Americans over-medicate? Hell yes! But that's completely different from saying that mental illnesses are made up things with no physical symptoms. Pshyco-motor retardation, disturbance of the normal sleep patterns and sever weight loss are all physical symptoms of chronic depression.
I wish I would have known this sooner. I bought into this idea of mental illness
just a superficial marketing campaign. If I would have known any better I wouldn't have waited two suicide attempts, uncountable incidences of self-harm and five years of being in complete, excruciating emotional pain before I decided that seeking professional help is in order.
I watched this program on local television in South Africa 2 nights ago. I just had to share it with my friends, so I have now shared it to my FB profile. THIS is insane - the cruelty of this practice and - all those who are involved in it. God bless all who are sensitive - and also those who are sensitive and are being flushed down the drain because they are.
This documentary was produced by a Scientology front group called citizens commission on human rights.
I am bipolar and I refuse to take my meds unless I am getting unwell. Why would I want to take something that just numbs me out and can result in facial twitches?. I want to be able to feel. Not live as though I am wrapped in a wet sheet and can't relate to people. If I get unwell i'll take them..BUT I refuse to live a life full of pills just so that I can be "normal".
What happens when you put label is that you start believe those labels. It doesnt mean that mentaly or physical "illness" sint real. I just prefer to see anything as an imbalance and each one of us have to find balance in our lives. As a child learns to walk by falling down, get up again and move on until learns to balance. Thats our human nature, physically, mentally, psychollogically. Using drugs as a first remedy takes away the natural potential of the human body or soul or whatever anyone wants to call it to heal. if a child that learns to walk start giving medicines for dysfunctional movement orientation and psychologically inability to cope with situations, doesnt that sound insane? As adults, as we grow up the fall , is much harder sometimes and just takes more time to find our balance back, shoud we then be so hard on ourselves or let other judge us that hard? Its fault of our humanity to just support each other, to take time when someone falls down to let that person stand up again. Unfortunately we better give pills so to get rid of the situation or problem as quickly as possibly. It takes time as a baby learns to walk...think about it.
Um, this documentary was created and funded by a Scientology group known as Citizens Commission of Human Rights. You cannot trust a cult that consistently lies and manipulates people, then makes garbage documentaries. There is no doubt that pharmacy companies are a problem, but this doc completely exaggerated the truth. And if you wanna follow there cult like message, you really do need psychiatric help. Mental illness is a serious problem, and people truly do suffer from it. Crap like this only makes the problem worse, it doesn't solve anything. Shame on you Scientology.
I didn't watch it, as soon as I saw the comparison between a broken bone and depression. This is exactly why all of my life I've met judgemental, aggressive people who dismissed my 10 year struggle as "imagination", and that I could've cured with "will power". Seriously, I cannot believe the stigma is still propagated.
I've been diagnosed with BPD (and other effects from this, like anxiety, depression, etc), and honestly, pills made me better. My psychiatrist is a wonderful person, and not once have I felt that she's trying to "buy" me.
It's frustrating that people dismiss the diseases of the brain, the most important organ in the organism, with the logic "what you can't visibly see isn't there". It's the brain, we don't know it at all yet, but what we know isn't "made up by companies". Stupid conspiracies.
money is the root of all evil -the conclusion of this documentary!