The Pill That Steals Lives by Katinka Blackford Newman is an uncomfortable book for a psychiatrist to read. It is the story of a woman who experienced extreme distress and was diagnosed, rightly or wrongly, with psychotic depression. She was then prescribed an increasing array of psychotropic medications to little avail, and experienced horrible adverse effects, which resolved when she stopped them, along with her distress. This is eloquently told, and is a cautionary tale for all prescribers – somewhat reminiscent of swallowing the spider to catch the fly. She is horrified that she was prescribed such drugs, particularly SSRIs, for what she later perceives as a reaction to difficult life events, and, as a documentary filmmaker, resolves to tell her story and investigate further.

As both a prescriber and sometime recipient of psychotropic drugs, including SSRIs, I found myself pulled in opposite directions. It is impossible for any psychiatrist to comment retrospectively on either the author's diagnosis or the necessity at that time for medication. But, as a patient, I have far more mixed and personal feelings about psychotropic drugs and their significant adverse effects, and her descriptions resonated strongly. I was deeply struck by her frustrations when she tried to discuss her fears with doctors, and also with the bland dismissals that she had a ‘chemical imbalance’. By simply telling her story, she raises questions and creates dissonance.

However, much of the book is concerned with the author's subsequent investigations, and, although interesting, this is less powerful and even detracts from her message. She raises important issues, particularly regarding Big Pharma and the hugely worrying expansion of prescribing indications. But ultimately the book never quite decides whether it is a personal testimony or a documentary, and the author's evidence and examples are paradoxically rendered less powerful by the context of her subjective experience and beliefs. I was also personally uncomfortable with her determination to involve her young children in her journey – although this may reflect my own preconceptions.

I strongly recommend reading this book, but to listen to the narrative rather than the explanations, and to draw one's own conclusions.