Battle for the Mind : Are you a skeptic?

by Norman

The above is the title of a book by William Sargant whom I've mentioned briefly in relation to 'conversion syndrome' referring to a state of mind where beliefs can radically alter - or be altered. I was thinking of another book 'The Mind Possessed: from Ecstacy to Exorcism' which he wrote long before Ecstacy had any relevance for social drugtaking and mass dancing. Interestingly he writes of shamanic practices, drumming, frenetic dance etc. in relation to ecstatic conversion of beliefs. Some people have been critical of his work and I don't want to get into that controversy here. The back cover blurb for 'Battle for the Mind' reads

'The object of this remarkable book is twofold: To explain how people can be switched to arbitrary beliefs absolutely opposed to those previously held - the science of brainwashing! In detail, and with the aid of fascinating photographs, the author describes the methods used to achieve these ends by politicians, priests, psychiatrists and police forces the world over.' There's no mincing words there, neither does William Sargant in the book. He could easily have played down how effective the methods can be.

He knew what he was talking about from a clinical point of view, and also as an anthropological observer through visiting many countries observing customs and rituals. Briefly at this stage I quote from p.79:

'... those who wish to disperse wrong beliefs and undesirable behaviour patterns and afterwards implant saner beliefs and attitudes are more likely to achieve success if they can first induce some degree of nervous tension or stir up sufficient feelings of anger or anxiety to secure the person's undivided attention and possibly increase his suggestibility.' He goes on to explain that, although one might use a model of slow and reasoned belief change, the reality is that it happens a lot faster which suggests a different dynamic.

He goes on to explain how questioning or interrogation can work subtly with the outcome that eventually the person being questioned feeds back to the questioners the theories swimming round and about him.

He was writing from the late 1950's to early 1970's, which explains some of his attitude and terminology.

See also the previous article on 'Physiology and the brain' regarding work by Dorothy Otnow Lewis and a colleague into some effects of brain damage on mental functioning

Next to arrive on my bookshelf was 'The Unquiet Mind' with William Sargant describing various approaches he attempted with patients, the research of the time, and his own search to find what was appropriate, 'real' or 'right' within his role.

He describes the dilemma that he and colleagues faced over the McNaughton Rules relating to criminal responsibility, and the state of mind of some people accused of violent crime. He writes of a young man who stabbed his mother while mentally confused. Extensive testing revealed abnormal brainwaves from very low blood sugar through his not recently having eaten. The jury took his mental state into account.

Other people in the legal system did not fare so well and some were sentenced to death. Severe abnormalities in brain functioning and behaviour can occur in people with a pre-existing condition who drink large quantities - not necessarily alcohol. Plain water in sufficient quantity can put someone over the edge, and brainwaves can be tested before and after taking in liquid.

There is much more and Sarjant's books are inexpensive and easily obtainable.

In the following section 'Are you a skeptic?' I mention the inefficacy (or worse) of certain medication for instance for schizophrenia and depression. William Sargant points out that in some cases people would probably not have survived without some appropriate medication.

I believe I am right in thinking that he felt medication would eventually help with many more kinds of problem, rather than people becoming involved in psychotherapy. I can't help thinking that environment and the way people are treated matter a great deal.

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Are you a skeptic?

by Norman

Generally I avoid publications which are openly sceptikal or skeptical or how it goes. But that is to throw the baby out with the bathwater just as much as they could be.

A recent publication of 'Skeptical Inquirer' dated September/October 2008 caught my attention and I'm glad. There is an article on stimulating the vagus nerve with an expensive gadget supposedly to relieve depression (but tests do not support that); an article on bipolar disorder/manic depression where diagnosis rate has shot up out of all proportion to the reality of the situation, in other words criteria for diagnosis have 'softened'.

Medication can produce significant side-effects, and may actually decrease the likelihood of recovery. On page 43 the article states (in relation to mood stabilising drugs) 'Indeed, these findings indicate that not receiving treatment works better than pharmaceutical intervention. Similarly, University of Illinois researchers recently found that only 5 percent of medicated schizophrenia patients recover, but 40 percent of non-medicated patients recover (Harrow, Grossman, Jobe, and Herbener 2005; also see Harrow and Jobe 2007). In other words, schizophrenia patients are eight times more likely to recover if they are not on medications!'

In the late 1960's I attended classes at a London college taught by a psychiatrist on the subject of mental health. I recall him saying that 'spontaneous remission' occurred in about 50 percent of schizophrenia cases, i.e. without drugs or therapy. There seems to be some general consistency with the more recent research figure of 40 percent.

Along with some other volunteers I became involved with a research project at a large Victorian mental hospital with a progressive approach. Each volunteer visited one patient assigned to them with the aim of forming a relationship to see whether there was significant improvement. I did not look up the results - we all knew that there was an improvement, and even some staff who were sceptical could see for themselves.

I think we need to look more to sociological and human approaches rather than thinking the cure necessarily comes from a medicine bottle. Having said that, I will add a proviso that people bear in mind the previous article 'Battle for the Mind' on the work and views of William Sargant.
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