Taking America Off Drugs

Why Behavioral Therapy is More Effective for Treating ADHD, OCD, Depression, and Other Psychological Problems

Publication Year: 2007

In this highly provocative book, Stephen Ray Flora maintains that we have been deceived into believing that whatever one’s psychological problem—from anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, depression, phobias, sleeping and sexual difficulties to schizophrenia—there is a drug to cure us. In contrast, he argues that these problems are behavioral, not chemical, and he advocates behavioral therapy as an antidote. He makes the controversial claim that for virtually every psychological difficulty, behavioral therapy is more effective than drug treatment. Not only that, but the side effects of behavioral therapy, rather than being harmful like many drugs, are actually beneficial, often facilitating self-empowerment through learning functional life skills.

Published by: State University of New York Press

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Taking America Off Drugs

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p. v-v

1. Introduction: The Drug Deception

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pp. 1-16

America has been deceived—deceived by the drug companies, by psychiatry, by our children’s teachers, by well-meaning physicians, and by mental health workers of all stripes. The deception has been so complete and successful that Americans believe the deception is fact. As a result of this deception, Americans are suffering. ...

2. The Behavioral Balance

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pp. 17-28

Fortunately, in addition to bringing to light the excessive practice of drugging America’s children, a U.S. News & World Report’s article (Shute et al., 2000) pointed to the behavioral solution: ...

3. Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Obesity

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pp. 29-42

Eating problems are behavioral problems. Eating is something we do. Eating is behavior. Eating disorders are behavioral disorders, not brain or chemical disorders. Of course, when eating has been out of balance for an extended length of time, chemical changes do occur. But chemical imbalances and changed brain functioning are effects, not causes, of problematic eating behaviors. ...

4. Specific Phobias

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pp. 43-62

Phobias are irrational fears that cause personal distress and can interfere with a person’s daily functioning. For example, a person with an elevator phobia may avoid buildings with elevators. Such a phobia would limit the person’s employment, living, and social possibilities, and could preclude the person from receiving important personal services. ...

5. OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Behavioral Problems

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pp. 63-70

People given the label “obsessive-compulsive disorder,” or “OCD,” have excessive, unwanted, intrusive, repetitive thoughts, and they engage in excessive, repeated, ritualized behaviors. These aversive obsessions and compulsive behaviors can become so excessive that the person who suffers from them is unable to function normally in society (e.g., hold down a job or maintain friendships). ...

6. ADD and ADHD

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pp. 71-94

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is supposedly a brain-based disorder (i.e., a “disease”) marked by attention deficits and/or hyperactivity. However, there is no conclusive evidence that there is any brain, chemical, or other physiological problems or malfunctioning associated with people labeled “ADD” or “ADHD.” ...

7. Depression

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pp. 95-110

A “major depressive episode” is the most severe and most common type of depression diagnosed by psychiatrists. Their diagnostic “criteria” include a severely depressed mood for “at least” 2 weeks. “Symptoms” include anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), appetite or weight change (losses or gains), insomnia or hypersomnia, ...

8. Schizophrenia

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pp. 111-122

Being told that a loved one has schizophrenia is one of the most devastating things a person can possibly hear. Schizophrenia is considered a psychotic disorder and is characterized by severe disturbances in thought (delusions) and perceptions (hallucinations). Without help, a person suffering from schizophrenia is unable to successfully function in life. ...

9. Health Concerns, Head to Toe

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pp. 123-142

The “news” of March 29, 2005, was something that most Americans knew already—many Americans are not getting enough sleep. But what made the known news was that according to the National Sleep Foundation the problem had reached epidemic proportions. One in 6 Americans was getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night, a 33% increase since the foundation’s first report in 1998. ...

10. Conclusion

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pp. 143-158

The least invasive or dangerous procedures should always be tried first, regardless of the specific problem. For virtually every type of psychological or behavioral problem, and for many medical problems, the least invasive and dangerous and most effective procedures are behavioral treatments. ...

E-ISBN-13: 9780791479643
Print-ISBN-13: 9780791471890

Page Count: 190
Publication Year: 2007