The Strange Unbalanced APA Views by Andrew Zito It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need, said APA President Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein.   While the American Psychiatric Association (APA) quoted by recently by medicalnewstoday.com (Jun 28th. 2005) openly distanced itself from its president by stating "the APA respects the right of individuals to express their own points of view", soon there after APA President Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein hypocritically stated that "It is irresponsible for Mr. [Tom] Cruise" to express his views in what was a direct attack on Mr. Cruise's rights to free speech. In fact specifically the APA not only attacked Mr. Cruise for expressing his views but questioned his connection to the movie industry as an actor in what clearly as if it appears they think they can treat anyone abusively as if they were prisoners in some hospital's psychiatric ward. After the initial interview there appeared no mention of Brooke Shields as if she has become incidental to the entire matter as an excuse for the APA to bludgeon us the public with its condescending tones of facts most people already know and would not argue against, namely that "science has proven that mental illnesses are real medical conditions that affect millions of Americans". But what characteristically doesn't appear in the APA's statement is what will question the integrity of the moral and ethical standards of the APA already draw into question by Mr. Cruise. The question the APA doesn't ask, refuses to ask, and doesn't want to ask is: "Is the cure worse than the disease?" Or is the APA, the Psychiatric, hospital, and Pharmaceutical industries/cure worse than the disease? Importantly the APA attempts to bury us in a deluge of psychiatric techical and financial data and information as if reality were some open book examination they have been appointed to govern and proctor when actually they should be serving societies needs rather than being instruments for abuse as they are. In self serving conjecture they stated: "Over the past five years, the nation has more than doubled its investment in the study of the human brain and behavior, leading to a vastly expanded understanding of postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Much of this research has been conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the nation's leading academic institutions." But what does that have to do with the ethical and moral standards of the psychiatric industry, and as to weither their perform and practices are adequate and appropiate? The APA continued in wishy washy tone and opinion stating what "medications" may and what they neglect to suggest they also "may not" be in stating: "Medications can be an important and even life-saving part of a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. As in other areas of medicine, medications are a safe and effective way to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans who have mental health concerns." Again what the APA states selectively is that: "Mental health is a critical ingredient of overall health. It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy." But what the APA again fails to mention is that most of us don't have much choice as to what we can do when the EMS Gestopo comes abusively knocking at our doors at all hours with armed police backup Selectively the article went on to state that: The diagnosis of a mental illness no longer carries the fear or shame it once did, according to a recent APA consumer survey. Nearly 90 percent of Americans surveyed correctly believe that people with mental illness can live healthy lives and an overwhelming majority (80 percent) feels confident that mental health treatment works. Study findings also show that nearly 70 percent of people surveyed view going to a psychiatrist as a sign of strength. We know that treatment works, said APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D, when what he doesn't mention is the years of trials and tribulations struggling most patients and their families must contend and with and how often there are incidents of overmedication, undermedication, misdiagnosis, prescriptions that fail to work as envisioned, hospotalizations due to under and over medications, and most importantly the false hopes and delusions offered psychiatric patients, and their families. While the psychiatric industry can give the APA's speeches out as glowing reports to their stockholders and potential investors all too happy to invest in an industry based on the continued suffering not cure of its patients. Western medicine should adopt the standards of Chinese medicine and receive payment only after success the patients wellness and cure.   medicalnewstoday.com APA responds to Tom Cruise's anti-psychiatry remarks 28 Jun 2005 The American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the following statement in response to Tom Cruise's anti-psychiatry remarks. While the APA respects the right of individuals to express their own points of view, science has proven that mental illnesses are real medical conditions that affect millions of Americans. It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need, said APA President Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein. Over the past five years, the nation has more than doubled its investment in the study of the human brain and behavior, leading to a vastly expanded understanding of postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Much of this research has been conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the nation's leading academic institutions. Safe and effective treatments are available and may include talk therapy, medication or a combination of the two. Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment works. Medications can be an important and even life-saving part of a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. As in other areas of medicine, medications are a safe and effective way to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans who have mental health concerns. Mental health is a critical ingredient of overall health. It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy. The diagnosis of a mental illness no longer carries the fear or shame it once did, according to a recent APA consumer survey. Nearly 90 percent of Americans surveyed correctly believe that people with mental illness can live healthy lives and an overwhelming majority (80 percent) feels confident that mental health treatment works. Study findings also show that nearly 70 percent of people surveyed view going to a psychiatrist as a sign of strength. We know that treatment works, said APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D. And since safe, effective treatments are available, Americans can have what everyone wants - healthy minds and healthy lives. About the American Psychiatric Association: The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose nearly 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders. Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives. Care that works to get your mind healthy again so you can lead a healthy life. Search for articles:     Universally Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved (copyright 2005 MPLF, Andrew Zito et al  contact  for author's consent to fair use (fascists only have rights to drop dead, die, or be killed!)