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the crisis of contemporary psychiatry with dr. bruce levine

Has psychiatry lost its way? Some within the profession believe that by not seriously confronting the systemic and societal sources of psychological suffering, Western mental health institutions have become part of the problem rather than the solution. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bruce E. Levine for a conversation about how once radical critiques of psychiatry are now becoming more mainstream. Some of these critiques include treatment outcome failure, the lack of scientific basis for the serotonin imbalance theory of depression, and the invalidity of psychiatry’s diagnostic manual (the DSM.) A practicing clinical psychologist often at odds with the mainstream of his profession, Bruce E. Levine writes and speaks widely on how society, culture, politics, and psychology intersect. Dr. Levine is on the editorial advisory board of the journal Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, and he is on the medical and scientific advisory board of the National Center for Youth Law.

 

TIME STAMPS

00:00 – 07:42: Why it’s important that we challenge our deeply held beliefs (unlearning and deprogramming)

07:42 – 14:02: Understanding the history of the critical psychology and critical psychiatry movements

14:02 – 19:42: Introduction to Dr. Bruce E. Levine and his work

19:42 – 01:55:50: Interview with Dr. Bruce E. Levine

01:56:01 – 02:00:36: Final thoughts and reflections

02:01:36 – 02:25:04: Listener question from Asja (the connection between “analysis paralysis” and chronic invalidation)

 

Recommended resources:

Bruce’s website

■ Article: Once Radical Critiques of Psychiatry are Now Mainstream, So What Remains Taboo?

■ Book: A Profession Without Reason: The Crisis of Contemporary Psychiatry


Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.


The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.

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