The Emperors New Drugs, Irving Kirsch, PhD
The Emperors New Drugs, Irving Kirsch, PhD
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The Emperors New Drugs
Exploding the Antidepressant Myth

Author: Irving Kirsch, PhD

Narrator: Richard Powers

Unabridged: 7 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/24/2012


Synopsis

Irving Kirsch has the world doubting the efficacy of antidepressants. Do they work, or are they no better than placebos? Like his colleagues, Kirsch spent years referring patients to psychiatrists to have their depression treated with drugs. Eventually, however, he decided to investigate for himself just how effective the drugs actually were. With fifteen years of research, Kirsch demonstrates that what everyone knew about antidepressants is wrongwhat the medical community considered a cornerstone of psychiatric treatment is little more than a faulty consensus. ButThe Emperors New Drugsdoes more than just criticize: it offers a path society can follow to stop popping pills and start proper treatment.

Reviews

Goodreads review by K on July 13, 2013

I wanted to read this book critically and remain skeptical of the author's controversial conclusions, that depression is not a chemical imbalance and that antidepressants work no better than placebos. And I would still be open to reading an intelligent, thoughtful rebuttal. But until that happens I......more

Do I really need to say it? Big pharma is horrifying and the world is corrupted. I just loved hearing that a medication I used to be on (citalopram) had various studies showing it’s complete ineffectiveness compared to placebo pills—but those got swept under the rug. I actually have taken multiple m......more

Goodreads review by Rick on February 16, 2024

It’s good. It’s defensive. Which I get if you’re trying to argue something that’s pretty radical to your field. But like as somebody who kind of already suspects the conclusions, I thought it got a little repetitive and rote. Basically, antidepressants are negligibly better than placebo. And to the e......more

Goodreads review by Morgan on May 15, 2017

Terrific read. Crucial for consumers of antidepressants and clinicians. The book does not attack the medications as much as it deconstructs the faulty-fraudulent methodologies of the pharmaceutical researchers. I feel much more informed after reading it and I feel more equipped to assist my clients......more

Goodreads review by Matt on February 19, 2012

This book is fascinating from several different points of reference. I expect that the title draws people who are interested in depression and antidepressants specifically, and that question is certainly an important part of the story he's telling. Clinical depression is a particularly difficult dis......more