Brain Damage Caused by Neuroleptic Psychiatric Drugs

In the past two decades, countless medical studies have shown that use of neuroleptic psychiatric drugs (also known as antipsychotics) is associated with structural brain changes, especially when taking high dosages for a long time. These brain changes can include actual shrinkage of the higher level parts of the brain. The shrinkage can be seen in brain scans and autopsy studies. In response to industry defenders who claim that this shrinkage is from the "mental illness," studies show neuroleptics lead to similar brain changes in animals. While the medical side of large libraries has this information, the public media side of the library does not. In other words, the public, patients and their families are not being informed about what medicine has long known.

Neuroleptics shrink brains in monkeys by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-05-30 16:42

In this study, both an older neuroleptic (Haldol or "haloperidol") and a newer atypical neuroleptic (Zyprexa or "olanzapine") caused significant shrinkage in the higher level parts of the brains in monkeys. Source: Neuropsychopharmacology 9 March 2005

Medical articles on neuroleptic brain damage by David W. Oaks — last modified 2007-09-15 09:09

These are a few of the many mainstream medical articles indicating that using neuroleptic psychiatric drugs (also known as antipsychotics) can lead to significant structural brain damage.

Scientific article: Neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs may cause cell death. by David W. Oaks — last modified 2007-09-26 11:50

This medical research revealed that the neuroleptics (also known as antipsychotics) may not only shrink the brain, but cause actual cell death.

Neuroleptic psychiatric drugs apparently impact brain cell numbers. by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-05-30 22:58

Here's a follow-up study to the other study of monkeys given neuroleptics (see related content below), "Effect of Chronic Exposure to Antipsychotic Medication on Cell Numbers in the Parietal Cortex of Macaque Monkeys"

More about how neuroleptics are shown to harm monkey brains. by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-05-30 23:06

More about neuroleptic damage to monkey brains from Biol Psychiatry 2008 April 15: "Effect of chronic antipsychotic exposure on astrocyte and oligodendrocyte numbers in macaque monkeys"

A Conversation With Nancy C. Andreasen by David W. Oaks — last modified 2009-02-09 16:36

The New York Times reports an extremely important discussion with psychiatrist and neuroscientist Nancy C. Andreasen. In he conversation, Prof. Andreasen speaks out about her findings that neuroleptic psychiatric drugs (also known as "antipsychotics") are leading to significant brain atrophy -- or shrinkage -- in patients.