PUBLIC TALK: Over diagnosis and over treatment of mental illnesses

An On the Edge Lecture by Jon Jureidini, child psychiatrist, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide.

Over diagnosis and overtreatment are dangerous, not just because of the possible adverse effects of unnecessary interventions, but because they detract from autonomous citizenship.

In this lecture Dr Jureidini will discuss the dangers of pharmaceutical domination of psychiatry, and the creation of key opinion leaders; evidence-based medicine; and biological reductionism. He will then make a case that we can counter these dangers by respecting ordinary feelings, minding our language, taking good risks, and practising drug-centred prescribing.

Cost: Free, but RSVP required via http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/jureidini