Prozac changed society. Its approval, just a couple of years before I entered pharmacy school, ushered in a new class of antidepressants. By the time I graduated in the mid-nineties, similar drugs like Zoloft, Paxil, and Effexor had entered the market. I don’t know what it’s like to be a pharmacist without these drugs being commonly prescribed.
As a Christian pharmacist, I’ve been especially interested in the debate around the use of psychoactive medications, particularly antidepressants. I have heard and read Christian leaders who unequivocally state Christians should never take psychoactive medications. I have listened to sincere Christians discuss how these medications have helped them tremendously. I have witnessed loved ones gain the focus and clarity to fulfill their responsibilities, tackle their problems, and enjoy their lives thanks to medications like these.
The Christian leaders who are against the use of psychoactive medications have admittedly gotten less strident in recent years. And while some of their cautions are helpful, some of their cautions are ridiculous. I’ve read discussions about these medications that introduce information that may be technically true but clinically irrelevant. It’s difficult to find a book with a spiritually balanced but medically informed view.
That is why I was happy to find Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications by Michael Emlet. Emlet is a medical doctor, but he also has a seminary degree and years of experience as a pastor and biblical counselor. This puts him in the unique position to supply medical information and also explore the spiritual implications of psychoactive medications.
The Goldilocks Principle
Emlet states his purpose in his first chapter, “The Goldilocks Principle.” He wants to address the “too cold” person who thinks that “Christians really wouldn’t have to take psychiatric medication if their faith were robust enough,” and the “too warm” person who equates taking psychiatric medications with taking Tylenol for a headache.
We need to beware of thinking the middle way is always correct, but I agree with Emlet on this. Psychoactive medications have helped a lot of people. And people with diagnoses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia should be on psychoactive medications. But largely due to direct-to-consumer advertising, many laypeople have an incomplete view of the limits of psychoactive medications. They are not the magic bullet the pharmaceutical companies want us to believe.
Understanding Psychiatric Diagnoses
The first section is an overview of psychiatric diagnoses. He examines the limits of the current diagnostic criteria and lack of objective tests with the clear eye of a clinician who understands the evolving nature of medical science. He explores the problems and pitfalls of psychiatric diagnoses, but also discusses the value of diagnoses and the implications for ministry.
Understanding Psychoactive Medications
The next section is an overview of psychoactive medications. It is not easy to explain these medications in a way that is accessible to a layperson without oversimplifying, but Emlet kept this balance quite well. He was accurate about the limits and drawbacks of these medications while keeping at the forefront that the human body is complex and individuals respond differently. He discusses both the biomedical data and biblical wisdom as it applies to ministering to people in distress. The church has plenty of discussions on how people can take psychiatric medications for the wrong reasons, and Emlet doesn’t shy away from this discussion. But he also brings out situations where a person can reject medications for reasons that are not godly, which is an important consideration.
A Biblical Approach
Emlet concludes the book by offering a biblical approach to the use of psychoactive medications. He explores the tension between our call to help relieve the suffering of others while remembering that suffering is a tool for sanctification. We don’t want to skip the heart work that depression and anxiety might uncover, but we also don’t want to ignore the help that God in his common grace might provide through medications.
This book is mostly written as an aid to those involved in “one another” ministries of pastoring, counseling, and discipleship. It would also be helpful for any Christian who wants a fair and accurate overview of psychiatric diagnoses and medications. This book is quite succinct at 100 pages, but Emlet provides footnotes for those who might want to explore more.
I have read many discussions of psychoactive medications through the years. The few times I have encountered books or articles I have been comfortable recommending, I always felt the need to include several disclaimers and caveats. This is the first book I could hand to someone without reservation. I am glad this book exists.
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