Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Rebekah Beddoe was diagnosed with postnatal depression. Two years later she was taking six different drugs, including lithium, a tranquiliser, an antipsychotic and antidepressants. She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, given electric-shock therapy, made numerous attempts on her life and was alternately manic and consumed by crippling despair, when .

A guide to the uses, benefits and impact of psychotropic drugs. It explains how people taking the drugs experience their side effects compared to the benefits they may bring. It includes thinking on the rationale for drug treatments to help mental health professionals and service users understand therapeutic decision making.

Explores the history of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - from their early development to their marketing campaigns - and the controversies that surround them. This work demonstrates the potential hazards associated with these drugs. It also demonstrates that the problems go much deeper than a side-effect of a particular drug.