Oh boy

[lobstar]

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RFK Jr. targets psychiatric meds, such as SSRIs, in wake of Minneapolis mass shooting

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed to psychiatric medication as a potential cause for gun violence, amplifying a baseless claim one day after...

www.dallasnews.com

So kid has terrible home life, suffers abuse, kills animals, a number of reports are made to police for concerning behavior, uses substances, etc, etc, eventually gets an SSRI because everyone does. We blame the SSRI for antisocial behavior.

 

[Merovinge]

The writing was on the wall that he was waiting for anything to happen to pull this. It has long been part of his plan. Doesn't make anything less bad and we certainly need AACAP as well as international organizations to be pushing back, but this was as inevitable as every other position the current administration has said they planned to carry out on.

 

[Sushirolls]

Move along, nothing to see here, not a problem, the evidence will speak for itself regarding SSRIs.

Not the first time criticism has been rendered like that from scientology, and others. The practices and medicines should be able to withstand the waves of legitimate and less legitimate concerns.

This is a nothing burger.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I agree in that this is probably one of the less immediately harmful things the oh so qualified HHS secretary is doing.

I'm more imminently concerned about the increasing numbers of <2yo that are going to be exposed to measles this year...among other things.

 

[hamstergang]

Move along, nothing to see here, not a problem, the evidence will speak for itself regarding SSRIs.

Not the first time criticism has been rendered like that from scientology, and others. The practices and medicines should be able to withstand the waves of legitimate and less legitimate concerns.

This is a nothing burger.

Scientology has nearly no power nor sway in this country. The Secretary of HHS, on the other hand, absolutely does. I don't know what will come from this, but to pretend that RFK Jr can't influence how we can practice medicine or how the public reacts to us practicing medicine is just wild.

 

[birchswing]

I wonder if this person regrets how they were quoted:

“I don’t think there’s a link with gun violence,” Mirzatuny said. “In fact, one should be on some kind of psychiatric medication to forestall any kind of violence.”

It sounds exactly like the type of crudely outlined, stock character that someone who is universally against psychiatric medications would be picturing as a psychiatrist.

 

[Bartelby]

Move along, nothing to see here, not a problem, the evidence will speak for itself regarding SSRIs.

In a perfect world I agree, but how many people comprehensively review the literature, understand the relevant studies and limitations of their methodology, and come to a nuanced and up-to-date understanding of the evidence base for any treatment?

Much more often people, including clinicians, rely on expert opinion that is (presumably) based on the literature. For example, treatment recommendations from national organizations or from government agencies. I think having a secretary of HHS that can be readily compared to a scientologist in his outlook on psychiatry actually isn't great.

I suspect he has other higher priorities and that nothing may come of this, but I find it hard to simply shrug off the secretary of HHS telling the public that psychiatric medication is a likely cause for mass shootings and that this link needs to be investigated. And I have serious doubts about the scientific neutrality of any investigations RFK's HHS may promote.

 

[Stagg737]

Scientology has nearly no power nor sway in this country. The Secretary of HHS, on the other hand, absolutely does. I don't know what will come from this, but to pretend that RFK Jr can't influence how we can practice medicine or how the public reacts to us practicing medicine is just wild.

Scientology almost eliminated ECT in the US. It was partially saved by COVID and bankruptcy relief after Scientology has repeatedly filed frivolous lawsuits against the only 2 US companies that make the devices easing to MECTA having to file for bankruptcy.

I would not underestimate he damage Scientology has done and continues to do to our field. Pretty ironic since their “auditing” is essentially just CBT and in some ways they are practicing pseudo-psychiatry themselves.

 

[allantois]

In this country it’s everything that leads to gun violence except the availability of guns themselves

 

[Sushirolls]

In this country it’s everything that leads to gun violence except the availability of guns themselves

Because its not a problem.

It's a people and culture problem.

America won't let itself be like Australia... banning guns... and now banning knives and who knows what comes after knives.

Guns are the greatest freedom in America and it is the failsafe to incivility and protecting all American freedoms.

 

[Sushirolls]

...
I'm more imminently concerned about the increasing numbers of <2yo that are going to be exposed to measles this year...among other things.

And this is going to be an ever rising issue. The government made huge mistakes. Huge, with how covid was handled and dictated to people. This will continue, as the trust in government, CDC, public health is lost among many groups of people. Until the day comes they outright apologize and list concretely each and every instance they messed up there is zero chance of reversing this momentum. And as we have now moved from months, but into the unit of years since covid, the window of opportunity to rectify this is closing.

One of the states I hold a license in routinely sends out emails from it's Dept of Health on how to talk to people about vaccines and holds meetings, chats, etc. Laughable in how much it misses the mark. It exudes the liberal elitist, intellectual smugness that turns many off. In summary - where there is no trust - there can be no communication.

As a physician I advocate for measles vaccines and other childhood vaccines. But I entirely understood the grievances of groups who aren't opting in and things are only going to get worse.

 

[allantois]

Because its not a problem.

It's a people and culture problem.

America won't let itself be like Australia... banning guns... and now banning knives and who knows what comes after knives.

Guns are the greatest freedom in America and it is the failsafe to incivility and protecting all American freedoms.

I would agree that it is a gun culture problem

On a separate note, the federal government is occupying the city of DC - not sure that the second amendment does anything to protect against the tyrannical government

 

[futureapppsy2]

I wonder if this person regrets how they were quoted:

It sounds exactly like the type of crudely outlined, stock character that someone who is universally against psychiatric medications would be picturing as a psychiatrist.

If you’re interviewed as on-record background for a news article, always ask to see the quotes before it goes to print:

 

[Stagg737]

Until the day comes they outright apologize and list concretely each and every instance they messed up there is zero chance of reversing this momentum.

Let’s not pretend like this would do anything but provide further ammunition to these people that the government is bad and that vaccines are dangerous. Providing a list of mistakes would do absolutely nothing to regain their trust, only create a “gotcha” argument and further justification for their stupidity on this subject.

People using these types of arguments don’t care about finding the truth. They care about proving themselves right.

 

[littlefred]

If you’re interviewed as on-record background for a news article, always ask to see the quotes before it goes to print:

Or better yet... never agree to be interviewed, there's always secondary gain with the journalists/press.

 

[Ceke2002]

Because its not a problem.

It's a people and culture problem.

America won't let itself be like Australia... banning guns... and now banning knives and who knows what comes after knives.

Guns are the greatest freedom in America and it is the failsafe to incivility and protecting all American freedoms.

Except for the part where we didn't actually do that. Guns aren't banned here, unless you think our professional hunters and farmers are just out there lobbing boomerangs at feral pest species. As for knives, that's not nation wide, and it's also not a full ban despite what the click bait headlines might claim. The state I live in has restricted' the sale and ownership of machetes unless you have a good reason like needing it for work, or genuine traditional or cultural reasons. Also you can't just go walking down the street wielding a sword here either. This isn't anything stunningly new, we've had restrictions on the carrying of dangerous items without good reason for several decades now.

And we're doing just fine on the freedom front as well, thanks. 👍

(edited to add: I sometimes have occasion to carry a double edged knife with me for religious purposes. What that means in terms of legality is that literally all I've ever had to do is ring the local cop shop for whatever area I'm living in at the time, give them my name, address, a brief description of the knife and my reason for carrying/transporting a potential weapon. They make a note in their system, and that's it, that's all there is to it. It's really not that big a deal.)

 

[Geraltofrivia]

There's at least one study now that was officially retracted regarding SSRIs... the infamous Paxil Study (Study 329) and even that's only because a minority of psychiatrists took issue with the conclusions of the study. There are papers ghostwritten by pharmaceutical companies, the names of "famous" psychiatrists being slapped on, and then published like original research. The entire system is a joke. I am entirely in favor of extra criticism and study of psychotropic medications.

Let us not forget the lasting damage Donald Ewen Cameron (former head of the American Psychiatric Association!) did to the field as well. Or what psychiatrists did to Rosemary Kennedy

 

[futureapppsy2]

As for knives, that's not nation wide, and it's also not a full ban despite what the click bait headlines might claim.

I mean, you have to be able to play knifey-spoony, of course! (@cara susanna).