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Warning: this book's warning may be hazardous to your mental health.


Glasser, W. (2003).

Warning: Psychiatry can be hazardous to your mental bealth. New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
, NY: Harper-Collins Publishers. Hard cover. 244 pp. $23.95. ISBN ISBN
abbr.
International Standard Book Number


ISBN International Standard Book Number

ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 
 0-06-053865-1.

Dr. Glasser is a well-known psychiatrist who lectures widely and is the president of the William Glasser William Glasser, M.D. is an American psychiatrist born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925, and developer of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. His ideas, which focus on personal choice, personal responsibility and personal transformation, are considered controversial by mainstream  Institute in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . He is the author of many books, including Reality Therapy (1965) and Choice Therapy (1998).

This book is the ninth written by Dr. Glasser since 1996 to explain "Choice Theory," the "new psychology" he advocates as "the road to mental health," (p. 6). Dr. Glasser describes his intended reader in the following words:
I believe you are a person who is looking for a way to find more
happiness in your life without depending on prescribed brain drugs such
as Prozac or self-prescribed ones like alcohol. You are not averse to
going to a counselor but on your tight budget your eyes are always open
to ways to find happiness by your own efforts. I see you as a thoughtful
person who enjoys finding out more about yourself and how to use this
understanding to get along better with the people near and dear to you.
(p. 7)


To better help individuals apply Choice Theory to their problems, he encourages the formation of Choice Theory Focus Groups. These groups are not intended to be therapy-oriented. Although they may require someone with a basic understanding of Choice Theory to start them, they are intended to be led by one of the participants and to be selfsustaining, much like Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), worldwide organization dedicated to the treatment of alcoholics; founded 1935 by two alcoholics, one a New York broker, the other an Ohio physician.  groups. The book itself describes several sessions of a Focus Theory group that began to function as this book was being written, and the author used draft chapters of the book as the beginning point of its discussion.

Choice Theory is posited on the assumption that "happiness is mental health," (p. 6). Furthermore, "The 'mental illnesses' that establishment psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and list in the DSM-IV DSM-IV
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). This reference book, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the diagnostic standard for most mental health professionals in the United States.
 should not be labeled illnesses ... They are the many ways unhappy people express their unhappiness," (p. 15). This unhappiness stems largely from dissatisfaction with important relationships in life. "This could be a mate, child or children, parent, friends, students (if you teach), coworkers, or boss" (p. 54).
No matter how we experience it, almost every symptom can be traced back
to its origin: relationships that lack love, respect, or both. By making
choices that help us stay connected with each other, the unhappiness can
be overcome. Caring and respecting, never controlling, are the
cornerstones of mental health. (p. 57)


The issue of control is crucial in Choice Theory:
When we have difficulty getting along with other people ... we will
almost always choose to employ what I call external control psychology,
or simply external control. It is a coercing, controlling, relationship-
destroying psychology that, essentially, everyone in the world, no
matter their culture, religion, politics, race, sex or economic class,
uses when they are having difficulty getting along with someone else.
(p. 72)


The seven deadly habits of external control are criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and rewarding to control. The Choice Theory alternatives are supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. Dr. Glasser believes that external control is learned behavior and that much of it is learned from parents and teachers. He opposes the use of external control in all relationships, including the parent-child, teacher-student, and psychiatristpatient relationships (e.g., pp. 77-78).

Furthermore, the symptoms of unhappiness are themselves choices. For example, when dealing with depression, Dr. Glasser encourages people to say "I'm depressing," or "I'm choosing to depress de·press
v.
1. To lower in spirits; deject.

2. To cause to drop or sink; lower.

3. To press down.

4. To lessen the activity or force of something.
," (p. 52). He continues
If you're moving along down the sidewalk on your feet, you say, 'I'm
walking.' You don't say, 'I'm walked.' We're talking now, not, we are
talked. Do you see the difference? Depressed is like the way they
describe the economy. What can you do about the economy? (p. 52)


Further on he states that "... all symptoms, painful, frightening, crazy, disabling dis·a·ble  
tr.v. dis·a·bled, dis·a·bling, dis·a·bles
1. To deprive of capability or effectiveness, especially to impair the physical abilities of.

2. Law To render legally disqualified.
, possibly even the symptoms of a disease like arthritis, are your brain's way of warning you that the behaviors you are presently choosing are not satisfying your basic needs," (pp. 109-110). These basic needs, according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 Dr. Glasser, are "survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun" (pp. 94-95).

Many mental health professionals would undoubtedly agree with the basic thrust of Choice Theory. It seems to this reviewer that many people whose unhappiness is indeed related to relationship problems could be helped by the principles espoused in this book. Additionally, many of us would agree with Dr. Glasser's unhappiness with the reluctance of HMOs to pay for needed counseling. There is no doubt that many individuals who could be helped with counseling are instead treated with drugs, and no attempt is made to help them deal with social, psychological, or spiritual issues that may be contributing to their symptoms.

However, Dr. Glasser does much more than advocate for Choice Theory. He begins the preface to his book by stating that "none of the people described in the DSM-IV, the official diagnostic and statistical manual of mental illness published by the American Psychiatric Association The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential world-wide. Its some 148,000 members are mainly American but some are international. , are mentally ill ... They do not need brain drugs and electric shocks, all of which harm their brains" (pp. xxi-xxii). Furthermore,
The real horror of this system is the harm it does to our innate desire
to try to take care of ourselves. The message that has now come through
loud and clear in the media is that when you are diagnosed with a mental
illness there is nothing you can do to help yourself. (p. 3)


He goes on to state that "The 'mental illnesses' that establishment psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and list in the DSM-IV should not be labeled illnesses, because none of them is associated with any brain pathology" (p. 3). Dr. Glasser bolsters his case in the foreword fore·word  
n.
A preface or an introductory note, as for a book, especially by a person other than the author.


foreword
Noun

an introductory statement to a book

Noun 1.
 to the book, written by Terry Lynch, M.D., an Irish physician and psychotherapist psy·cho·ther·a·pist
n.
An individual, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatric social worker, who practices psychotherapy.
 who wrote Beyond Prozac: Healing Mental Health Suffering Without Drugs. He also includes a chilling first-person account by Al Siebert Dr. Al Siebert, Portland, Oregon, is director of The Resiliency Center and an internationally recognized researcher into the inner nature of highly resilient survivors. He is an ex-paratrooper with a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate , Ph.D., a psychologist who, while doing his postdoctoral post·doc·tor·al   also post·doc·tor·ate
adj.
Of, relating to, or engaged in academic study beyond the level of a doctoral degree.

Noun 1.
 fellowship at the Menninger Clinic in 1965, espoused some unconventional views of mental illness. Dr. Siebert was then, presumably pre·sum·a·ble  
adj.
That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster.
 as a consequence of these views, hospitalized and forced to take Thorazine against his will. Finally, the author reproduces an article by Anthony Black, a freelance writer, titled "Prescription for Scandal: Biological Psychiatry's Faustian Pact," in which the writer takes aim at the widespread use of Electro-Convulsive Therapy electro-convulsive therapy nelectroterapia

electro-convulsive therapy nélectrochocs mpl

electro-convulsive therapy n
 and the even more widespread use of psychotropic drugs psychotropic drug Psychoactive drug Pharmacology A drug that affects brain activities associated with mental processes and behavior Categories Anti-psychotics; antidepressants; antianxiety drugs or anxiolytics; hypnotics. .

The issues raised by Dr. Glasser are much too complex to be dealt with in a brief book review. Nevertheless, this reviewer believes that there are solid grounds for disagreeing with at least some of his conclusions. Not everything described in the DSM-IV may merit the description of "mental illness" (the DSM-IV itself uses the phrase "mental disorders mental disorders: see bipolar disorder; paranoia; psychiatry; psychosis; schizophrenia. "). Yet to insist that none qualify as illnesses surely renders a disservice dis·ser·vice  
n.
A harmful action; an injury.


disservice
Noun

a harmful action

Noun 1.
 to many of those we treat. Furthermore, I, for one, am very grateful that--aside from intelligent listening, encouragement, and acceptance--I am able to offer my patients medication that relieves some of their suffering and can indeed facilitate the task of repairing damaged relationships in their lives! I would heartily endorse Dr. Glasser's rejection of those who would equate a DSM-IV diagnosis with inability to do anything to help themselves.

This book has much to offer an unhappy public and can certainly provide mental health professionals with additional tools to carry out their task. However, it may in some cases discourage those whom most of us would regard as ill from receiving adequate mental health treatment.

BOOK REVIEWERS

LEWIS, PHILIP, M.D. Recently retired from service as a senior medical officer in the U.S. Army, Dr. Lewis currently works and teaches at Biola University History
Originally located in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of Sixth St. and Hope St., the university moved south to its present location in suburban La Mirada, California, in 1959.
.

Reviewed by PHILIP LEWIS, M.D.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Rosemead School of Psychology
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
castellano-hoyt
Donald Castellano-Hoyt (Member): Dr. Glasser is right, and Dr. Lewis has missed the point 8/14/2007 10:58 PM
I think Dr. Lewis has missed Glasser's intent: if there is no identifiable medical condition (physical illness) then the metaphors "mental illness" or "mental disorder" should not have medication thrown out them. To do so is to provide legal designer drugs to help people get "higher" emotionally. <br>Harvard Medical School has moved away from the unprovable and untenable "chemical imbalance" theory. I should hope that the rest of the medical community will move away from giving drugs to nonexistent conditions.

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Title Annotation:Featured Review
Author:Lewis, Philip
Publication:Journal of Psychology and Theology
Article Type:Book Review
Date:Mar 22, 2004
Words:1310
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