Marijuana vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD and other Mental Disorders

Pharmacotherapy vs Psychotherapy

Dr. Phil Leveque is interviewed by Tim King for a documentary on PTSD (under production). Photo by Bonnie King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - This article was prompted by a book review by Eric R. Kandel in the New York Times (9-8-2013). The book title appears to be “The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind and Brain from Vienna 1900- Present”. Dr. Kandel of Columbia University is the author of the book.

The reason I am writing this article is to compare the CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) with marijuana therapy.

Marijuana is the complete surrogate which completely mimics the natural hormone in the body called Anandamide which almost completely controls many brain functions and diseases including schizophrenia in some reports.

Dr. Kandel introduces the subject by comparing CBT to or with anti-depressant medications. CBT and psychotherapy has many siblings or cousins including the following:

• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Therapy
• Rational Living Therapy
• Schema Focused Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

The process was originally developed by psychologist Albert Ellis , PhD. In the mid 1950’s. The subject has a long list of fathers or uncles.

I am interested in this because a modification of this therapy was / is used to treat military veterans with PTSD.

PTSD in the war veterans is about 2 million patients with 22 suicides a day and 8,000 in the last one year. PTSD has been treated with a wide variety of medications including:

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Other anti-depressants
• Anti-convulsants
• Opiates and Opioids
• Gabapentin

None of these work well, or consistently.

I posted on article “Marijuana vs Anti-depressants for PTSD: Marijuana Wins Hands Down” (2-13-2009). PTSD is not depression, it is ANGUISH. I also posted “Marijuana Prevents Suicides” (5-3-2013), as far as the rest of above are concerned, they are way out in left field and most help nobody.

Psychologists and some psychiatrists have tried the “on the couch” psychotherapy. Should this be one of the first questions asked, “What was your worst war experience?” PTSD veterans would completely break down, they might bust the male “therapist” in the face, or very likely, walk out.

One hour in artillery barrage will change the thinking and acting of these behavioral therapists. Many quasi-therapists have had such experiences. Nowadays, nice, gentle lady nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, psychologists, social workers, or something like that treat the patients in the VA setting.

Talk therapy doesn’t work!

In the meantime, PTSD military veterans are being screwed by the system and the cognitive behavioral therapists are making lots of money.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE PTSD COMBAT VETERANS!

--- MARIJUANA WORKS! ---

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Welcome Home, Tom

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