Bob Johnson (psychiatrist)
Encyclopedia
Dr Bob Johnson is a psychiatrist and an outspoken opponent of electroconvulsive therapy
and psychosurgery
in general.
He currently acts as Consultant to the James Nayler Foundation, a charity set up to further research, education, training and treatment for all types of personality disorder
s, especially those involving violence to others or to self. A charismatic character, he is seen as a leader figure in the Foundation, which in turn is sometimes identified with him.
He trained at the University of Cambridge
, the London Hospital, and at the renowned Claybury Hospital
, Essex, where he obtained a grounding in group work and therapeutic community techniques. In 1964 he was appointed as a Senior Psychiatrist in Middletown State Hospital, New York, working in the Drug Addiction Unit and the acute wards.
His renown largely stems from his time as consultant psychiatrist in the Special Unit in HMP Parkhurst for dangerous prisoners. While there he devised his talking cure
techniques around which the James Nayler Foundation and his personal crusade against psychosurgery
and psychiatric medication
. His work formed the basis of a documentary investigation by the BBC's flagship programme Panorama
.
In 1997, he was consultant psychiatrist to The Retreat
, and in 1998 he was invited to become Head of Therapy at Ashworth Special Hospital
.
He has since set up an Emotional Support Centre on the Isle of Wight to assist and cure those with personality disorders, though this had to close after a few years because of funding problems.
He holds the currently controversial view that mental ill-health is a software, not a hardware problem. He therefore takes great exception to all recent editions of the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) starting with DSM-III published in 1980, which explicitly rules out stress as a causative factor. With the WHO reporting that suicide now kills more of us globally than heart disease and cancer combined, he advocates a wider perspective – including modernising the Laws of Physics. All non-living systems decay, their disorganisation (entropy) inexorably increases. He argues that since living skin heals itself, where dead skin doesn't – the chemicals are the same, the physics isn’t – thus if skin can heal, so can minds.
He redefines “Personality Disorders” as “Perception Disorders”, and proposes that “the Healing Hand of Kindness detoxifies trauma”. His website is www.DrBobJohnson.org.
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
and psychosurgery
Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery, also called neurosurgery for mental disorder , is the neurosurgical treatment of mental disorder. Psychosurgery has always been a controversial medical field. The modern history of psychosurgery begins in the 1880s under the Swiss psychiatrist Gottlieb Burckhardt...
in general.
He currently acts as Consultant to the James Nayler Foundation, a charity set up to further research, education, training and treatment for all types of personality disorder
Personality disorder
Personality disorders, formerly referred to as character disorders, are a class of personality types and behaviors. Personality disorders are noted on Axis II of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV-TR of the American Psychiatric Association.Personality disorders are...
s, especially those involving violence to others or to self. A charismatic character, he is seen as a leader figure in the Foundation, which in turn is sometimes identified with him.
He trained at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, the London Hospital, and at the renowned Claybury Hospital
Claybury Asylum
Claybury Asylum was a psychiatric hospital at Woodford Bridge in Essex. It was opened in 1893 making it the fifth London County Council Asylum.-History:...
, Essex, where he obtained a grounding in group work and therapeutic community techniques. In 1964 he was appointed as a Senior Psychiatrist in Middletown State Hospital, New York, working in the Drug Addiction Unit and the acute wards.
His renown largely stems from his time as consultant psychiatrist in the Special Unit in HMP Parkhurst for dangerous prisoners. While there he devised his talking cure
Talking cure
The Talking Cure was a term originally offered, along with "chimney sweep", by Dr. Josef Breuer's patient Bertha Pappenheim to describe the talking therapy that relieved her of her hysterical symptoms...
techniques around which the James Nayler Foundation and his personal crusade against psychosurgery
Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery, also called neurosurgery for mental disorder , is the neurosurgical treatment of mental disorder. Psychosurgery has always been a controversial medical field. The modern history of psychosurgery begins in the 1880s under the Swiss psychiatrist Gottlieb Burckhardt...
and psychiatric medication
Psychiatric medication
A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the mental state and used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring, or at...
. His work formed the basis of a documentary investigation by the BBC's flagship programme Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
.
In 1997, he was consultant psychiatrist to The Retreat
The Retreat
The Retreat, commonly known as the York Retreat, is a place in England for the treatment of people with mental health needs. Located in Lamel Hill in York, it operates as a not for profit charitable organisation....
, and in 1998 he was invited to become Head of Therapy at Ashworth Special Hospital
Ashworth Hospital
Ashworth Hospital is a high security psychiatric hospital at Maghull in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England.Ashworth is one of only three high-security specialist psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales, along with Rampton and Broadmoor, that exist to work with people who...
.
He has since set up an Emotional Support Centre on the Isle of Wight to assist and cure those with personality disorders, though this had to close after a few years because of funding problems.
He holds the currently controversial view that mental ill-health is a software, not a hardware problem. He therefore takes great exception to all recent editions of the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) starting with DSM-III published in 1980, which explicitly rules out stress as a causative factor. With the WHO reporting that suicide now kills more of us globally than heart disease and cancer combined, he advocates a wider perspective – including modernising the Laws of Physics. All non-living systems decay, their disorganisation (entropy) inexorably increases. He argues that since living skin heals itself, where dead skin doesn't – the chemicals are the same, the physics isn’t – thus if skin can heal, so can minds.
He redefines “Personality Disorders” as “Perception Disorders”, and proposes that “the Healing Hand of Kindness detoxifies trauma”. His website is www.DrBobJohnson.org.
See also
- Peter BregginPeter BregginPeter Roger Breggin is an American psychiatrist and critic of biological psychiatry and psychiatric medication. In his books, he advocates replacing psychiatry's use of drugs and electroconvulsive therapy with humanistic approaches, such as psychotherapy, education, and broader human...