Anatomy of an Epidemic

Did you know that treatment outcomes for bipolar and schizophrenic patients before the 1960s were better than they are today?

Did you know that energetic, distracted boys in the 1950s grew up to become scientists, doctors, and innovative thinkers? Today, they're diagnosed with ADHD—and their outcomes are worse than they were 50 years ago.

The mental health epidemic is undeniable. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia—all are worse than ever. The critical question is: why?

This book will challenge everything you thought you knew about the answer. Is it chemicals, toxins, and environmental factors? Possibly. But what if it's self-inflicted? What if our approach to treating mental health over the past 50 years is actually fueling today's epidemic?

Robert Whitaker takes a deep dive into this unsettling possibility. His findings are disturbing: the very medications we've used for half a century to treat mental health conditions may be one of the primary drivers behind their dramatic increase.

Whether you're conventionally trained, an academic, or practice integrative and functional medicine, this book will challenge your understanding of mental health—its causes, treatment approaches, and the path forward to ending this crisis.