Sir, – In response to Aiden Corvin’s article (Opinion, July 31st). I am an example of a person who would be dead today if I did not eventually become drug free and see through the fact that psychotropic drugs were causing my problems. I was diagnosed “bi-polar”. It is very clear to me now with 20/20 vision that the drugs did indeed cause the very problems many psychiatrists were trying to alleviate. They all would sing from the same hymn sheet as Mr Corvin.
I am in touch, through various groups and websites, with many people worldwide with similar stories. Renowned author Robert Whitaker has compiled the data and evidence in his book Anatomy of an Epidemic that it is psychotropic drugs which shorten people’s lives not the fictitious, non-scientific diagnoses many of us have received.
The solution is found in facing up to the truth and providing people help to help themselves if that is their choice.
“Of all Tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” – CS Lewis. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I would like to challenge Prof Aiden Corvin’s assertion that “patients who take antipsychotic medication live longer” (Opinion, July 31st).
Also clarification is needed as to the basis of average life expectancy for people with “schizophrenia” and “bipolar disorder”, as he states. I would suggest that it has never been definitively established that this is due to “illness” or whether this is iatrogenic in effect, that is caused by medications. – Yours, etc,