What’s New? APA Threats, Xanax, Etc.

by Phil on January 23, 2012

Daniel Carlat’s blog carries an interesting item.  It seems that a lady named Suzy Chapman started a site called dsm5watch, in which she expressed criticism of the DSM.  Well, the APA didn’t like this and sent her a cease and desist letter, claiming that the string “DSM-5” is trademarked, and that she was infringing their rights.  She complied, changing the name of her site to dxrevisionwatch.

What I find interesting here is that the APA claim to be interested in public comment.  I guess as long as it doesn’t get too critical.

Christopher Lane’s blog has an interesting piece on how Upjohn promoted the concept of panic disorder in order to sell Xanax.

Xanax, incidentally, is the best-selling psychiatric drug in America.  I am reminded of a quip I heard from a psychiatrist many years ago.  “The difference between Xanax and true love is that Xanax is forever.”   He went on to explain – “you don’t take people off Xanax – once you’re on, you’re on!”

Tagged as: DSM, DSM-5, panic attacks, Xanax

  • http://dxrevisionwatch.wordpress.com/ Suzy Chapman

    Thank you, Dr Hickey, for highlighting this “cease and desist” issue. 

    It has generated a good deal of interest and I am collating links to commentaries from other mental health professionals, allied professionals and a two part article by author, Gary Greenberg, in this post on my site http://wp.me/pKrrB-1Bi

    There is a little more to this story, because I was served a second “cease and desist” letter full of legalistic gems like “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct and that I am authorized to act on behalf of the American Psychiatric Association” in respect of three additional internet platforms – a top level domain and two social media accounts – none of which are registered to me or for which I have any responsibility.

    Evidently, not only had the APA’s Licensing and Permissions/legal department failed to read my site disclaimer, failed to note the non commercial nature of my site and failed to consider “fair use”, but no-one had bothered to confirm to whom these three other sites are registered before issuing nasty threats of legal action for claims of violation of US Trademark Law.  And thus far, no apology for having served the second ”cease and desist” to the wrong party!

  • wildcoyoteband

    Wow, the comment system has really changed….guess I’ll pass.

  • wildcoyoteband

    Hmmm, okay. I take Xanax maybe once a week or every two weeks, to help me sleep.   Am I hooked?  I’ve been doing this since about 2004.

  • Anonymous

    wildcoyoteband,

    Sorry you had difficulty getting in. Jay, our webmaster, tells me that the spam blocker had difficulty with the word Xanax, and placed your comment in the spam folder. Jay retrieved it, and so here we are. Thanks for coming in.

    There are many reasons why people have difficulty falling asleep, and I’m sure you’re familiar with these. There are also many ways to solve this problem – one of which is to take a sedative drug. Some sedative drugs have a potential to become habit-forming, and this can have truly disastrous consequences. Xanax is generally considered to have a high potential in this regard. But I’m not saying you shouldn’t take it. That’s a decision you have to make yourself. A usage rate of one pill every week or so certainly wouldn’t be considered excessive by any standards. And since you’ve maintained this since 2004, you certainly don’t seem to be careening down a slippery slope.

    My only suggestion is to make sure that you’re making an informed choice. Read about the drug – it’s in a category called benzodiazepines. Keep yourself informed. Don’t get hung up on the word “addicted.” The issue is – has the use of the drug become habitual and is it creating negative consequences in your life?

    Best wishes.

  • Anonymous

     It posted right away, but I had no idea what acct I was using, hence not the user name I wanted. You had a different more straightforward comment system before, now everyone’s gone to this Disqus app or whatever it is.

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