Bedlam: Greed, Profiteering, and Fraud in a Mental Health System Gone Crazy

Reviewer Charles Hannasch is correct in his observation about the swift publication of Sharkey's book. I am not aware that other books or publications of this story were hurt thereby. However I wish that Sharkey had interviewed me about some details since I'm the one who initially trained Sector One personnel on mental health emergency detention warrants and because of that involvement assisted (then State Senator) Frank Tejeda's office in the investigation. In my own book, Enhancing Police Response to Persons in Mental Health Crisis, Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, 2003, I give some additional detail about the background of Sector One and the alleged kidnappers and ability in those days of civilians to execute mental health emergency detention warrants. If he were to write a sequel or second edition Sharkey might note that quite rightly (at least in my view) all charges against the so-called "bad guys" were ultimately reduced to misdemeanor status. Mr. Sharkey's account is well-told; his word-smithing skills unparalleled.

This is a truly shocking book. In terms of content, it could be said that there is nothing new under the sun: the psychotherapy industry is greedy and corrupt. Plenty of writers from Masson onwards, have revealed to us the real motivating factors for many mental health professionals: greed and narcissism. But even the harshest cynic will be horrified by the details contained in this work. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written. Excellent.

The focus of this book is on how corporate, for profit, mental hospitals put aside all ethical concerns and took advantage of distressed people that sought mental health, addiction treatment, or crisis counseling. As the author described it:"These hospitals devised vast promotional programs -- aggressive advertising coupled with painstaking media manipulation and systematic kickbacks to counselors and others who might have access to troubled potential patients -- to create a whole new product niche: treatment in psychiatric wards for people who had never before been regarded as candidates for inpatient psychiatric care." (p. 11)Much of the book is anecdotal. The accounts of various people that came into contact with corporate mental health hospitals is shocking. The reoccurring theme was that marketing was used to seek out as many people as possible and finder's fees were paid to those that referred people to the hospital. Then the hospitals would keep people in "treatment" for as long as their insurance would cover the expenses, even switching their diagnosis to extend their stay. Once the insurance money ran out, the patients were pronounced "cured." Occasionally, bounty hunters were used to "escort" people that were reported to be in need of mental health services, but only those with good insurance, of course.One of the most important lessons this book provides is just how wrong the mental health system can get. This book serves as a reminder that even recently, psychiatrists can throw all ethical concerns out the window for money. Sadly, only treating those that had insurance coverage was a concern, and not those with genuine problems.

Joe Sharkey's view of the truth behind the medical insurance field is rivoting. I am proud to know this man