What's wrong with psychopharmacology by Dr. Dan Sfera

[Altostrata]

On his blog, The Psych Guru, Dr. Dan Sfera has posted his Intro To PsychoPharmacology, a PowerPoint presentation that attempts to explain the thinking behind psychophamacology.

 

His take is that bad emotions create bad "circuits" and that drugs interrupt these circuits, or something -- how drugs change the bad circuits is unclear.

 

The climax of the presentation (http://www.slideshare.net/Dansfera/intro-to-psychopharmacology) is on slide 29, which states

"Treatments for psychiatric symptoms can be selected or combined by identifying key neurotransmitters that regulate hypothetically malfunctioning circuits associated with specific symptoms."

 

In fact

 

1) The neurotransmitters have not been identified

2) No association of "circuit" regulation by neurotransmitters has been identified

3) As you say, the malfunction of circuits itself is hypothetical

4) No neurotransmitters can be associated with specific symptoms

 

Lastly, this theory completely disregards effect of environmental inputs on human emotions and behavior and completely discounts the ability of the individual to control those inputs, i.e. change habits leading to emotional distress.

 

Essentially, as Dr. Sfera has formulated it, the fundamental assumptions of psychopharmacology are merely a matter of belief, not science. The "matching" of drugs to symptoms must be an exercise in intuition on the part of the psychopharmacologist, sort of like faith healing, but with powerful chemicals.

 

In sum, a patient of a psychopharmacologist is no more than a lab rat in an uncontrolled and poorly planned experiment -- guided by faux "research" that has been hopelessly compromised.

 

Having exposed exactly where psychopharmacology has gone wrong, one hopes Dr. Sfera would direct his own practice to, as he has said (in comments on http://go.neiglobal.com/Blog/tabid/83/EntryId/16/Are-future-psychiatric-treatments-doomed-Be-careful-what-you-ask-for-you-just-might-get-it.aspx), "alleviating the pain and suffering of the patients" rather than exposing them to the insufficiently examined risks of medication.

 

Dr. Sfera's main business, however, is conducting clinical trials for drug companies: http://www.southcoastclinicaltrials.com/index.php/key-staff

[compsports]

The video by the nurse practitioner about being anxious regarding taking medication is a real trip. She recommends the typical coping mechanisms for anxiety such as meditation.

 

Hmm, maybe these should be recommended treatments before medications are prescribed. I was tempted to say that in a comment but I fear they will delete it.

 

http://thepsychguru.com/2011/07/anxious-about-taking-medications/

[Altostrata]

Sure, post away. Dr. Sfera needs to hear from patients. He's very concerned about them.

[compsports]

Sure, post away. Dr. Sfera needs to hear from patients. He's very concerned about them.

 

He is about as concerned about patients as the Republicans are about jobs.

 

Sorry for my partisian comments but I just couldn't resist the analogy.

 

CS

[cinephile]

"Treatments for psychiatric symptoms can be selected or combined by identifying key neurotransmitters that regulate hypothetically malfunctioning circuits associated with specific symptoms."

 

In fact

 

1) The neurotransmitters have not been identified

2) No association of "circuit" regulation by neurotransmitters has been identified

3) As you say, the malfunction of circuits itself is hypothetical

4) No neurotransmitters can be associated with specific symptoms

So basically, when taking all these points together, basically psychiatry is saying, "Your Guess is as Good as Mine." Huh. Learn something new every day.

 

His take is that bad emotions create bad "circuits" and that drugs interrupt these circuits, or something -- how drugs change the bad circuits is unclear.

LOL! Psychiatry's really throwing slop at the walls now, huh? We of course know nothing will stick...

[Rhiannon]

Sure, post away. Dr. Sfera needs to hear from patients. He's very concerned about them.

 

LOL!