Previous entry: Zondervan puts new spin on an old favorite, the Bible
Next entry: Changes in Spain jarring Catholic Church
Related
Advertisements *
Advertise Here *
Elsewhere
Subscribe: RSS
 |
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Subscribe: Email
 |
 Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Most Popular
- Attorney stymied by anti-polygamy activist’s TV demand
- Man killed at Hollywood Scientology center had made prior threats, police say
- Hate incidents in U.S. surge
- Five leaders of Muslim charity convicted in terrorism financing trial
- Swordsman Had Threatened Scientology Before
- Netherlands will extend burqa ban to universities
- California county OKs limits on picketing in response to anti-Scientology protests
- Mercy Ministries exorcism books leaked
- AUM Shinrikyo bankruptcy procedures to end, victims get 40% of compensation
- RNB Roundup: Atheism ads get tax support; Holland bans Magic Mushrooms; Fritzl turns to Buddhism; More…
Cruise blasted for psychiatry attack
More articles on this topic: ScientologyThe American Psychiatric Association today sharply criticised actor Tom Cruise for televised remarks in which he called psychiatry a “pseudo science” and disputed the value of antidepressant drugs.
“It is irresponsible for Mr Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need,” APA President Dr Steven Sharfstein said.
- Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, quoted at What judges have to say about Scientology
During interviews promoting his latest film, War of the Worlds, Cruise has discussed his deep scepticism of psychiatry while explaining his belief in the teachings of the Church of Scientology, founded by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.
In one such interview last week on NBC’s Today show, Cruise was asked about his recent criticism of actress Brooke Shields for revealing that she had taken the antidepressant Paxil to cope with postpartum depression.
“Before I was a Scientologist, I never agreed with psychiatry,” Cruise said. “And when I started studying the history of psychiatry, I understood more and more why I didn’t believe in psychology. … And I know that psychiatry is a pseudo science.”
Disputing the effectiveness of antidepressants generally, Cruise said: “All it does is mask the problem. There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance.”
Cruise also singled out drugs, such as Ritalin, that are used to treat children for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, calling Ritalin “a street drug”.
As Today host Matt Lauer pressed the 42-year-old actor on his views, Cruise said: “Here’s the problem. You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do.”
The rebuke from the APA, which represents nearly 36,000 physicians specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, challenged Cruise’s assertion that psychiatry lacked scientific merit.
“Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works,” the APA said.
“It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy.”
What You Can Do From Here
|
Read More Articles On These Topics
Share, Blog, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Previous entry: Zondervan puts new spin on an old favorite, the Bible Next entry: Changes in Spain jarring Catholic Church
RNB Homepage with latest headlinesFind Related Information
Find Related Books
|
Share This Article
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:
