:: Is Psychoanalysis & CBT a Disease Masquerading as a Cure?

Is Psychoanalysis & CBT a Disease Masquerading as a Cure? 

Every year the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and many other medications go up exponentially in an attempt to adjust or control one’s emotional state and behavior. As this trend continues NIMH and APA continue to support CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as it continues to prove itself more ineffective than effective. Every year there are new stats on the number one cause of death. If you look closely at these stats the number one cause of death in the United States is one’s own behavior. The billions spent each year to support CBT are in part convincing people that it is working all the way to their grave.

The January 2009 New England Journal of Medicine noted that antipsychotic drugs doubled the risk of sudden cardiac death, while another study disclosed in March 2009 by Whang, et. al. found that antidepressant drugs also increase the rate of sudden cardiac death. If CBT or psychoanalysis worked why would there be a need to risk one’s life with a medication.

Children were the leading growth demographic for the pharmaceutical industry in 2009, with the increase of prescription drug use among youngsters nearly four times higher than in the overall population, according to a report by Medco Health Solutions Inc. Out of all the disturbing reports about our decline in behavioral health this one is the most disturbing.

Show Me the Data

CBT claims it is effective for depression with hundreds of studies yet finding one is almost impossible. When one is found it is usually in a structure that includes complex convoluted math formulas that even those who specialize in CBT cannot explain. By its own definition CBT is an experimental, observational, subjective modality. In contrast the only evidence-based program process in behavioral health and the only proven process for depression known as Subconscious Restructuring® have its studies readily available on its website with straight forward numbers generated by the client, not the counselor, therapist or psychiatrist.

From 1996 to 2005 the use of antidepressants doubled and the use of psychotherapy went down. More than 164 million prescriptions were written in 2008 for antidepressants, totaling $9.6 billion in U.S. sales, according to IMS Health. Even if one’s worst subject is math it is not difficult to calculate whether CBT and psychoanalysis is working.

CBT and psychoanalysis are single handedly driving profit up every year for the pharmaceutical companies by causing the illusion that it is effective for issues like depression. This illusion is maintained with billions of dollars spent each year by our government and the pharmaceutical companies.

If someone convinces you to use a medication that may increase suicidal thoughts or increase your chance of sudden cardiac arrest because they do not understand the processes of the subconscious, this can be referred to as a disease. It is time to start questioning CBT and every other behavioral health modality that claims to be effective regardless of how much the government or pharmaceutical companies spend to support it.

CBT is single handedly driving profit up every year for the pharmaceutical companies by causing the illusion that it is effective for issues like depression. The billions of dollars in government funding dispersed each year for CBT research in conjunction with the billions of dollars the pharmaceutical companies spend on advertising easily buys a perception that a disease is a cure.  The conspiracy theorists should have a great time with this one once they get off their medication.

About Kelly Burris 
Kelly Burris, PhD is the author of 9 books on human behavior, developer of Subconscious Restructuring® and CEO atthe Subconscious Restructuring® Institute. Please visit the SR® Institute for online or live Counseling Certification & Life Coach Certification in the SR® process.