Dr. Peter Breggin, M.D.

Dr. Peter Breggin, M.D. is known as “The Conscience of Psychiatry” for his many decades of successful efforts to reform the mental health field. His scientific and educational work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric drugs and electroshock (ECT) and he promotes more caring and effective therapies. 

He has been a consultant to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) on the effects of psychiatric drugs on pilots, and recently was the key expert witness in hearings before the U. S. Congress on psychiatric drug-induced violence and suicide in the military.

He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than 20 books including the bestseller Talking Back to Prozac (1994, with Ginger Breggin). Based on his clinical and forensic experience, he presented numerous examples of tragic adverse drug reactions in his book, Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and Crime (2008).   He summarized the dangers of psychiatric drugs and described how to withdraw from them in Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and Their Families (2013).   Dr. Breggin’s newest book is Guilt, Shame and Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Emotions

Dr. Breggin is a graduate of Harvard (with Honors) and Case Western Reserve Medical School.  His psychiatric training included a Teaching Fellowship at Harvard Medical School.  After finishing his psychiatric training, he became a full-time consultant at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for two years. He has taught at many universities.  Dr. Breggin’s private practice is in Ithaca, New York where he treats adults, couples, and families with children.