Peter Lehmann (author)
Encyclopedia
Peter Lehmann is an author, social scientist, publisher, provider of a mail-order book-service and an independent freelance activist in humanistic anti-psychiatry
, living in Berlin
, Germany
.
Peter Lehmann has an education in social pedagogy
. Since the 1970s, he has represented positions of humanistic antipsychiatry within the consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement
and circles of humanistic professionals.
In 1980, he was co-founder of a support group
of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry
and advised about psychiatric drugs and withdrawal
until 1989. In 1987, he was co-founder of PSYCHEX (Switzerland
), an alliance of lawyers, doctors and survivors of psychiatry
to support people who are incarcerated in psychiatric institutions in Switzerland
); since then, board member. In 1989, he was co-founder of the Organization for the Protection from Psychiatric Violence (running the Runaway House Berlin
, which opened its house for people seeking shelter from psychiatric violence in 1996).
Since 1990, he has been co-editor of the Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (United Kingdom
). In 1991, he was co-founder of the European Network of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) and was the organization’s chair from 1997–99 and was a board member until 2010. Since 2002, he has been a member of MindFreedom International
and its designated representative to the United Nations
. In 2007, he was a member of the Organizational Committee of the Conference "Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry", run by the World Psychiatric Association
in Dresden
.
In September 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in acknowledgment of "exceptional scientific and humanitarian contribution to the rights of the people with psychiatric experience" by the School of Psychology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
, Greece
, Philosophical Faculty. Lehmann is the first survivor of psychiatry
anywhere in the world to be honored with an honorary degree
for pioneering achievements within the realm of humanistic antipsychiatry. In July 2011, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
in acknowledgement of service to the community by the President of Germany
, Christian Wulff
.
In 1986, he founded Peter Lehmann Publishing and Mail-order Bookstore in Berlin
and published his first book, Der chemische Knebel (The Chemical Gag) (Berlin: Antipsychiatrieverlag 1986) in German through his own Antipsychiatric Publishing House. In 2003, he founded a branch in United Kingdom
and in 2004 in the United States
of America.
s, argues that—similar like at alcohol
—in the medium and long term, the harmful effects (receptor-changes, deficit-syndrome, suicidality, tardive psychosis
, obesity
, hypercholesterolemia
, diabetes, apoptosis
, etc.) typically outweigh short-time benefit, if a patient sees any benefit at all. Lehmann also argues that psychiatry
as a medical discipline cannot do justice to the expectation of solving mental problems that are largely of a social nature; that its propensity to use involuntary treatment
constitutes a threat; and that its diagnostic methods obstruct understanding of the real problems of individuals in society.
For these reasons, Lehmann pleads for developing adequate and effective assistance for people in emotional difficulty and safeguarding their social inclusion by an unconditioned basic income. He advocates as well for their civil and political rights in treatment on a par with "normal" patients, joining forces in cooperation with other human rights
and support group
s, and support in withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. He promotes the use of alternative and less toxic psychoactive drug
s, a ban on electroshock (so-called electroconvulsive therapy
), and new ways of living with madness and being different, with as much independence from institutions as possible, as well as tolerance, respect and appreciation of diversity at all levels of life.
, medicine
, psychiatry
, social work
, naturopathy and alternative places, report on how they helped in the withdrawal
process.
In his second book, Alternatives beyond psychiatry, co-edited in 2007 with psychiatrist
Peter Stastny, Lehmann highlights alternatives beyond psychiatry
, current possibilities of self-help
for individuals experiencing madness
, and strategies toward implementing humane treatment.
Anti-psychiatry
Anti-psychiatry is a configuration of groups and theoretical constructs that emerged in the 1960s, and questioned the fundamental assumptions and practices of psychiatry, such as its claim that it achieves universal, scientific objectivity. Its igniting influences were Michel Foucault, R.D. Laing,...
, living in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Peter Lehmann has an education in social pedagogy
Social pedagogy
Social Pedagogy is an academic discipline concerned with theory and practice of holistic education and care. The term 'pedagogy' originates from the Greek pais and agein , with the prefix 'social' emphasising that upbringing is not only the responsibility of parents but a shared responsibility of...
. Since the 1970s, he has represented positions of humanistic antipsychiatry within the consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement
Consumer/Survivor/Ex-Patient Movement
The psychiatric survivors movement is a diverse association of individuals who are either currently clients of mental health services , or who consider themselves survivors of interventions by psychiatry, or who identify themselves as ex-patients of mental health services...
and circles of humanistic professionals.
In 1980, he was co-founder of a support group
Support group
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic...
of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and advised about psychiatric drugs and withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol...
until 1989. In 1987, he was co-founder of PSYCHEX (Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
), an alliance of lawyers, doctors and survivors of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
to support people who are incarcerated in psychiatric institutions in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
); since then, board member. In 1989, he was co-founder of the Organization for the Protection from Psychiatric Violence (running the Runaway House Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, which opened its house for people seeking shelter from psychiatric violence in 1996).
Since 1990, he has been co-editor of the Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). In 1991, he was co-founder of the European Network of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) and was the organization’s chair from 1997–99 and was a board member until 2010. Since 2002, he has been a member of MindFreedom International
MindFreedom International
MindFreedom International is an international coalition of over one hundred grassroots groups and thousands of individual members from fourteen nations. It was founded in 1990 to advocate against forced medication, medical restraints, and involuntary electroconvulsive therapy. Its stated mission is...
and its designated representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. In 2007, he was a member of the Organizational Committee of the Conference "Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry", run by the World Psychiatric Association
World Psychiatric Association
The World Psychiatric Association is an international umbrella organisation of psychiatric societies.-Objectives and goals:Originally created to produce world psychiatric congresses, it has evolved to hold regional meetings, to promote professional education and to set ethical, scientific and...
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.
In September 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in acknowledgment of "exceptional scientific and humanitarian contribution to the rights of the people with psychiatric experience" by the School of Psychology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest Greek university, and the largest university in the Balkans. It was named after the philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, Chalcidice, about 55 km east of Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Philosophical Faculty. Lehmann is the first survivor of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
anywhere in the world to be honored with an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
for pioneering achievements within the realm of humanistic antipsychiatry. In July 2011, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in acknowledgement of service to the community by the President of Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
, Christian Wulff
Christian Wulff
Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff is the President of Germany and a politician of the Christian Democratic Union. He was elected President on 2010 and publicly swore the oath of office on . A lawyer by profession, he served as Premier of the state of Lower Saxony from 2003 to 2010.-Early life and...
.
In 1986, he founded Peter Lehmann Publishing and Mail-order Bookstore in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and published his first book, Der chemische Knebel (The Chemical Gag) (Berlin: Antipsychiatrieverlag 1986) in German through his own Antipsychiatric Publishing House. In 2003, he founded a branch in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and in 2004 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of America.
Criticism of psychiatry
A large portion of Lehmann's work concentrates on the iatrogenic (negative) effects of neuroleptics, the so-called antipsychoticAntipsychotic
An antipsychotic is a tranquilizing psychiatric medication primarily used to manage psychosis , particularly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A first generation of antipsychotics, known as typical antipsychotics, was discovered in the 1950s...
s, argues that—similar like at alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
—in the medium and long term, the harmful effects (receptor-changes, deficit-syndrome, suicidality, tardive psychosis
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
, obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be caused by many diseases, notably cardiovascular disease...
, diabetes, apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
, etc.) typically outweigh short-time benefit, if a patient sees any benefit at all. Lehmann also argues that psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
as a medical discipline cannot do justice to the expectation of solving mental problems that are largely of a social nature; that its propensity to use involuntary treatment
Involuntary treatment
Involuntary treatment refers to medical treatment undertaken without a person's consent. In almost all circumstances, involuntary treatment refers to psychiatric treatment administered despite an individual's objections...
constitutes a threat; and that its diagnostic methods obstruct understanding of the real problems of individuals in society.
For these reasons, Lehmann pleads for developing adequate and effective assistance for people in emotional difficulty and safeguarding their social inclusion by an unconditioned basic income. He advocates as well for their civil and political rights in treatment on a par with "normal" patients, joining forces in cooperation with other human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and support group
Support group
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic...
s, and support in withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. He promotes the use of alternative and less toxic psychoactive drug
Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior...
s, a ban on electroshock (so-called electroconvulsive therapy
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 new ways of living with madness and being different, with as much independence from institutions as possible, as well as tolerance, respect and appreciation of diversity at all levels of life.
Publications
Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers (2004) was originally published in German in 1998 and was the first book on this issue world-wide. Beside family members and professionals, Lehmann primarily addresses people who choose to withdraw from these drugs. He shows detailed accounts of how others came off these substances without once again ending up in the in the doctor's office. Beside people from different countries all over the world, in his practice book professionals, working in psychotherapyPsychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, naturopathy and alternative places, report on how they helped in the withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol...
process.
In his second book, Alternatives beyond psychiatry, co-edited in 2007 with psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
Peter Stastny, Lehmann highlights alternatives beyond psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, current possibilities of self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
for individuals experiencing madness
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
, and strategies toward implementing humane treatment.
Books
- Lehmann, P. (Ed.) (2004), Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful withdrawal from neuroleptics, antidepressants, lithium, carbamazepine and tranquilizers. ISBN 978-0-9545428-0-1 (U.K.), ISBN 978-0-9788399-0-1 (USA). Berlin / Eugene / Shrewsbury: Peter Lehmann Publishing.
- Stastny, P. & Lehmann, P. (Eds.) (2007), Alternatives beyond Psychiatry. ISBN 978-0-9545428-1-8 (U.K.), ISBN 978-0-9788399-1-8 (USA). Berlin / Eugene / Shrewsbury.
Selected articles
- Lehmann, P. (2010). The particular elements of Soteria from the perspective of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry. Asylum – The Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry (U.K.), 17(4), 11-13.
- Lehmann, P. (2010). How to withdraw from psychiatric drugs. Asylum – The Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry (U.K.), 17(2), 29-31.
- Lehmann, P. (2010). Medicalization and irresponsibility. Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (U.K.), 10(4), 209-217.
- Lehmann, P. (2010). International noncompliance and humanistic antipsychiatry. In K. Bairaktaris (Ed.), Proceedings of the European Congress against Discrimination and Stigma, for User-Orientated Reforms in Psychiatry and the Right to Alternatives (pp. 63–72). Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- Lehmann, P. (2010). Resisting psychiatric assault: A European initiative to introduce a suicide register. In B. Burstow & S. Diamond (Eds.), Proceedings of the PsychOUT-conference, May 7–8, 2010. Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto 2010.
- Lehmann, P. (2009). A snapshot of users and survivors of psychiatry on the international stage. Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (U.K.), 9(1), 32-42.
- Lehmann, P. (2009). Variety instead of stupidity: About the different positions within the movement of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry. Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (U.K.), 9(4), 197-204.
- Lehmann, P. (2007). From the madhouse to the warmth of others. aaina—A mental health advocacy newsletter (India), 7(3), 9-12.
- Lehmann, P. (2005). All about PSY DREAM: Psychiatric drug registration, evaluation and all-inclusive monitoring. Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale, 14(1), 15-21.
- Lehmann, P. (2002). Treatment-induced suicide: Suicidality as a potential effect of psychiatric drugs. Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (U.K.), 2(1), 54-58.
- Lehmann, P. (2001). Coming off neuroleptics. In C. Newnes, G. Holmes & C. Dunn (Eds.), This is madness too: Critical perspectives on mental health services (pp. 81–91). Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books.
- Lehmann, P. (2000). Manage or perish? Or chosing to live without neuroleptic drugs? In J. Guimón & N. Sartorius (Eds.), Manage or perish? The challenges of managed mental health care in Europe (pp. 469–474). New York / Boston / Dordrecht / London / Moscow: Kluwer Adacemic / Plenum Publishers.
- Lehmann, P. (1999). Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders by empowerment: Is there a psychiatry-policy without meaningful participation of (ex-) users/survivors of psychiatry? In J. Lavikainen, E. Lahtinen & V. Lehtinen (Eds.), Proceedings of the European Conference on Promotion of Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 10–13 October 1999, Tampere, Finland (pp. 108–110). Helsinki: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
- Lehmann, P. (1999). Psychiatric emergency-treatment: Help against one's will or action of professional violence? In M. De Clercq, A. Andreoli, S. Lamarre & P. Forster (Eds.), Emergency psychiatry in a changing world: Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of the International Association for Emergency Psychiatry (pp. 95–104). Amsterdam/Lausanne/New York/Oxford/Shannon/Singapore/Tokyo: Elsevier.
- Lehmann, P. (1998). Perspectives of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry. In E. Lahtinen (Ed.), Mental Health Promotion on the European Agenda. Report from a Consultative Meeting, 15–16 January 1998, Helsinki, Finland (pp. 63–68). Helsinki: STAKES Publications.
- Lehmann, P. (1998). Remarks and points to be added to the Declaration of Madrid (World Psychiatric Association) . In The Voiceless Movement / Les Sans-Voix (Ed.), Deprived of our humanity: The case against neuroleptic drugs (pp. 159–162). Geneva: Association Ecrivains, Poètes & Cie.
- Lehmann, P. (1998). Withdrawal symptoms connected with cessation of psychiatric drugs. In The Voiceless Movement / Les Sans-Voix (Ed.), Deprived of our humanity: The case against neuroleptic drugs (pp. 73–80). Geneva: Association Ecrivains, Poètes & Cie.
- Lehmann, P. (1994). "Progressive" psychiatry: Publisher J. F. Lehmann as promoter of social psychiatry under fascism. Changes – An International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy (U.K.), 12(1), 37-49.
- Lehmann, P. & Kempker, K. (1993). Unconventional approaches to psychiatry. Clinical Psychology Forum (U.K.), (51), 28-29.