Yes, psychoactive chemicals have a very real effect on neurotransmitters; this does not say the physical effect must bear out its stated psychiatric intent. Als

Yes, psychoactive chemicals have a very real effect on neurotransmitters; this does not say the physical effect must bear out its stated psychiatric intent. Also while I have no real idea what was going on in the 60s, public mental hospitals in the USA are often terrible to the point of being inhumane. Alot of people I've talked to who've had long and or recurring stays in public institutions compare them, often negatively, to prisons. The private sector is infinitely better in that regard, though. The real issue is just that psychology and psychiatry are both extremely frontier sciences. I agree that encouraging people to avoid them is harmful, but it's not apparent to me that most of what's happening in those fields isn't still largely guesswork. Either way, I'd also like to see the studies Luriel's talking about regarding the efficacy of specific meds.