Robert Whitaker

Robert Whitaker

Robert Whitaker is a journalist and author of five books. His latest, Psychiatry Under the Influence, written with co-author Lisa Cosgrove, was published in April 2015. Much of his writing has focused on psychiatry, the pharmaceutical industry, and medical histories. His first book, Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill was named by Discover magazine as one of the best science books of 2002, while the American Library Association named it one of the best history books of that year. His subsequent book on this topic, Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America, won the Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism in 2010.

Prior to writing books, Robert Whitaker worked as the science and medical reporter at the Albany Times Union newspaper in New York for a number of years. His journalism articles won several national awards, including a George Polk award for medical writing, and a National Association of Science Writers' award for best magazine article. A series he co-wrote for The Boston Globe on psychiatric research was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1998.

He also was director of publications at Harvard Medical School for a time. In 1994, cofounded a publishing company, [[CenterWatch]{.GramE}]{.SpellE}[, that]{.GramE} reported on the business aspects of the clinical trials industry. He sold [CenterWatch]{.SpellE} in 1998, partly in order to write Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine, and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill.

The Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America[, published in 2010, investigates a medical mystery: Why has the number of adults and children disabled by mental illness skyrocketed over the past fifty years?]

Robert Whitaker's third book, On The Laps of Gods, (2008) won the 2007 Anthony J. Lukas work-in-progress award. The Mapmaker's Wife was named by the American Library Association as one of the best biographies of 2004. The book has been translated into Spanish, German, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Hebrew, and Korean.

Journalism Awards:

  • 2010 Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism (for Anatomy of an Epidemic)
  • 2000 Finalist for The Goldsmith prize for Investigative Reporting
  • 1998 George Polk Award for Medical Reporting
  • 1998 Finalist for Pulitzer Prize, Public Service
  • 1998 National Association of Science Writers, Best Magazine Article
  • 1998 National Institute of Health Care Management Journalism Award
  • 1994 New York State AP Award, first place, Depth Reporting
  • 1994 American Aging Association Excellence in Journalism Award
  • 1994 Hearst Writing Contest Award, first place, Enterprise Reporting
  • 1992 New York State Publishers Award, first place, Community Service
  • 1992 New York State AP Award, second place, Depth Reporting
  • 1992 Hearst Writing Contest Award, first place, Community Service
  • 1989 New York State Publishers Award, first place, State Coverage
  • 1987 New York State AP Award, second place, Business Coverage