Poets on Prozac shatters the notion that madness fuels creativity by givingvoice to contemporary poets who have battled myriad psychiatric disorders,including depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, andsubstance abuse.The sixteen essays collected here address many provocative questions: Doesemotional distress inspire great work? Is artistry enhanced or diminished by mental illness? What effect does substance abuse have on aesthetic vision? Do psychoactive medications impinge on ingenuity? Can treatment enhance inherent talents, or does relieving emotional pain shut off the creative process?Featuring examples of each contributor's poetry before, during, and after treatment,this original and thoughtful collection finally puts to rest the idea that a tortured soul is one's finest muse.Richard M Berlin, MD, is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts, a psychiatrist in private practice, and a published poet. He writes a monthly poetry column for Psychiatric Times and is the author of How JFK Killed My Father, a collection of poems about illness and the healing arts.
