Furious Seasons

April 27, 2009

Psychologist Criticizes NAMI's Approach To Mental Illness

Beyond Meds posted a lengthy, searing indictment of NAMI and its "Family to Family" program recently. It's essentially the text of a booklet authored by a psychologist named Ty Colbert who, among other things, criticizes NAMI for offering families "false hope" when they grapple with a mentally ill child (or adult child) because the group pins almost all of its claims on weak theories of chemical imbalance driving mental illnesses. What's intriguing about Colbert's assertions is that he makes them as someone who has participated in many NAMI conferences and who observed an entire "Family to Family" course for 12 weeks.

NAMI is of course under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) for the many millions it get from pharma companies.

A sample of Colbert's writing:

"Even though these members (parents) are dedicated to helping their children, because they have been falsely convinced that mental illness is a biological disorder, they are blindly helping to disable their children, many for life. This booklet has been written to expose this tragedy that has affected hundreds of thousands of young individuals and their families."

Colbert is pretty much from the anti-meds camp and has written a few books on psychiatry and psychology. It's interesting that he presents small case studies of one person for whom the NAMI approach (medication first, last and always) worked and someone for whom it didn't.

Anyhow, it's a long, interesting read and has certainly led to an epic comment thread over at Beyond Meds.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at April 27, 2009 12:01 AM

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Comments

If you want to marginalize individuals assert that they are intrinsically damaged. Here NAMI has successfully argued that the center of all emotion and reason, the brain, is flawed without presenting evidence supporting this canard.

If you want to be certain that individuals are treated poorly argue that they are insensitive to their environment. Here NAMI argues that "bad parenting" can't lead to mental illnesses. One would suppose this includes negligent and/or abusive parenting (and by extension abuse by anyone else.)

If you really want to deliver the final blow assert that individuals who fail to internalize a stereotype concerning the depth, breadth, debilitating nature of mental illnesses are evidencing a lack of insight, i.e. anosognosia. And it is only with this "insight" as evidenced by the internalization of a potentially devastating self-image that one can make progress towards his or her own recovery.

The paradox is striking for an organization which claims to be in the forefront in the fight against stigma. One would be hard pressed to find another organization which promotes the interests of a constituency by marginalizing the same.

From the NAMI Southern Maryland Press Release, Spring 2009, announcing its "Family to Family Education Program."

“Serious mental illnesses are brain disorders,” said Connie Walker, the president of NAMI’s regional affiliate in southern Maryland. “They are far more common than the general public realizes. Too often, the unwarranted stigma associated with having a mental illness keeps people from talking about the problem or seeking help."

Posted by: Joe at April 27, 2009 06:57 AM

As much as I can't stand psychiatrists in general, therapists tend to be even worse. This guy seems like one of those therapists who is absolutely convinced as to why people behave the way they do and spends his therapy sessions trying to convince his patients of his theories, then he deludes himself into thinking his patients have gotten better. I'm really not liking the anti-psychiatry direction this site is going in. It seems like you're willing to post anything that makes a case against meds as long as it doesn't come from a scientologist, but this guy is a kook.

Posted by: acute_mania at April 27, 2009 09:01 AM

Sounds like a psychologist trying to drum-up business for his psychoanalytic practice!

Posted by: Tony at April 27, 2009 09:36 AM