#560 Open Lines

Treatments for mental illness have ranged from flogging to frontal lobotomies. In the 1950s researchers developed drugs like Thorazine to treat schizophrenia. But serious side effects limited their usefulness. Newer medications have been heralded as breakthroughs against hallucinations and delusions. How much better are they than old-fashioned medicines? Can we justify their high price? Estrogen-like compounds found naturally in plants like beans and rye are often recommended for menopause symptoms. But now a plant-based diet rich in these phytoestrogens may help reduce the risk of lung cancer. We’ll learn why. Pomegranate juice has certainly gotten a lot of buzz lately. In the latest study, mice with prostate cancer play a starring role. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366. GUEST: Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Director, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Director, Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research; Psychiatrist-in-Chief @ New York Presbyterian Hospital & Columbia University Medical Center