A review of 'Great and Desperate Cures' by Elliot Valenstein, which examines the history of lobotomy and psychosurgery, explaining how tens of thousands of patients underwent dangerous brain operations from the 1930s-1950s despite poor evidence of effectiveness.

Scott analyzes the implications of the FDA ending compounded GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which have provided a cheaper alternative to official channels for the past three years, and examines various responses from both compounding pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies.

Scott Alexander summarizes reader comments about CBT-i apps, their effectiveness, pricing challenges, and FDA regulation.

Scott Alexander criticizes the emergence of expensive, prescription-only therapy apps, using Somryst (a CBT-i app) as an example, and warns about the normalization of this trend.

Scott Alexander analyzes how FDA regulations contribute to drug shortages and high prices, using buspirone and insulin as examples.

Scott Alexander examines and expresses skepticism about a theory that attributes high-dose melatonin supplements to patent avoidance, while reflecting on the challenges of evaluating such claims.

A collection of links covering topics from drug regulation and genetic testing to tax reform and AI developments, with Scott's commentary on each item.

The post examines three major issues with generic medications: barriers to market entry, problematic FDA initiatives, and inconsistent pricing across pharmacies.

Scott Alexander compares the disconnect between American and Russian psychopharmacology to having different chemical elements, exploring why effective Russian psychiatric drugs are unknown in America.

Scott Alexander analyzes a study revealing poor statistical literacy among doctors, critiquing both the study and its implications for medical decision-making.