I'm aware of the subject you're writing about, Mo. There's actually quite a bit of information about by patient/"consumer" blogs on the Internet.

I'm not talking about the "anti-med" crowd, but more advocates of "informed consent." Medications are over-prescribed; their efficacy rates aren't as high as advertised; doctors are quick to prescribe drugs and -- in my experience -- usually the follow-up isn't at all proactive (especially considering the side effects some drugs can cause); and though they keep saying it's a chemical imbalance, there is no test for it, and many "chemicals" in the brain are not yet known about. Personally I've never had a doctor order any type of brain scan be performed on me.

Well, I don't really have the credentials of some people, but there are books on the subject. One by a former Boston Globe reporter, Alison Bass (book's name is Side Effects). That's the only book I've read. I know of a few others by seeing related results on Amazon. She has a web site and blog you can find using Google. You might also check out a blog called furiousseasons.com (not updated as often anymore, but many related links on his site).

I hope that will help with your wondering. I have a piece I wrote about physical dependency and SSRIs, one of those opinions I mentioned that was published in a local community paper. Out of courtesy I'll not post the link, but if you ask I'll give it to you.

Oh, you might want to also check the BBC web site for a Hulls University study that researched the difference between antidepressants and placebos.

Also Minnesota Public Radio and probably National Public Radio has done some shows on the subject, if you like to listen to stuff online. Some of the radio shows are an hour long.

No one cares.

I didn't know Abilify was originally for bi-polar dis-ease.  I take Abilify along with anti-depressant for depression.  It is expensive to buy so I hope they are not playing with my mind.

I believe that there has been 1 counselor in the last 30 years of my sisters dis-ease that actually did care and was reprimanded for going to see her while she was hospitalized for an incident.  What is also frustrating is that the hospital and mental facility do not communicate with one another as each have their "own way of dealing with these situations".  I have asked numerous questions, have gotten agitated, have spoken softly, have asked for answers and almost immediately the screen comes up and you are "cut off". They want the family involvement when it is Convenient for them. They do not like to answer questions - they have no answers, so the solution is to try every cocktail they can think of.  There are various levels of functioning when a person is bi-polar. How in the world does the hospital know the "norm" for an individual if they do not communicate with her primary care giver? She has been released from the hospital numerous times when she is not even close to HER norm.  In any event, I did not mean to ramble on but this is one of the most difficult areas that I (and I'm sure more than I) have to deal with.  It just makes me plain crazy!