Jeffrey M. Schwartz

Jeffrey M. Schwartz
OccupationPsychiatrist
EmployerUCLA School of Medicine
Websitejeffreymschwartz.com

Jeffrey M. Schwartz is an American psychiatrist and researcher in the field of neuroplasticity and its application to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).[1][2] He is a proponent of mind–body dualism and appeared in the 2008 film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed [3][4]

Brain lock

Brain lock is a term coined by Schwartz to describe obsessive-compulsive behavior. His 1997 book Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior outlines the disorder and its treatment.[5][6] In the book Schwartz claims that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a result of a bio-chemical imbalance that "locks" brain functions into an obsessive-compulsive pattern and that OCD can be self-treated by following four steps:[7][8]

  1. Relabel the obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges as obsessions and compulsions, not as real thoughts.
  2. Reattribute the obsessive thoughts to a brain malfunction called OCD.
  3. Refocus on a wholesome, productive activity for at least fifteen minutes.
  4. Revalue the entire obsession and compulsion group as having no useful meaning in your life.

Selected publications

Books

  • Jeffrey Schwartz and Beverly Beyette, Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior, New York: Regan Books, 1997. ISBN 0-06-098711-1.[9]
  • Jeffrey Schwartz and Sharon Begley, The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the power of mental force, New York: Regan Books, 2002. ISBN 0-06-039355-6.
  • Jeffrey Schwartz, You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life, New York: Avery, 2011. ISBN 1-58333-426-2.

Articles

  • Schwartz, J. M., Stapp, H. P., and Beauregard, M. (2004). The volitional influence of the mind on the brain, with special reference to emotional self-regulation, in Beauregard, M. (Ed.), Consciousness, emotional self-regulation, and the brain, Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins Publishing Company, chapter 7. ISBN 90-272-5187-8.
  • Schwartz, J. M., Stapp, H. P., and Beauregard, M. (2005). Quantum physics in neuroscience and psychology: A neurophysical model of mind-brain interaction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 360(1458):1309-27. Full paper
  • Schwartz, J. M., Gulliford, E. Z., Stier, J., and Thienemann, M. (2005). Mindful Awareness and Self-Directed Neuroplasticity: Integrating psychospiritual and biological approaches to mental health with a focus on obsessive compulsive disorder, in Mijares, S. G., and Khalsa, G. S. (Eds.), The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook: Alternative methods for understanding and treating mental disorders, Binghamton, NY: Haworth Reference Press, chapter 13. ISBN 0-7890-2324-5.

References

  1. ^ Malcolm, Lynne (September 9, 2008). "Part 1 of 2: The Power of Plasticity". ABC.net.au. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  2. ^ "4th Annual Discovery Society Insiders Briefing on Intelligent Design". Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  3. ^ Beauregard, Mario (November 26, 2008), "Non-materialist mind", New Scientist, no. 2684, p. 23
  4. ^ "A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism". Discovery Institute. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  5. ^ Austin, Michael (2011). Useful Fictions: Evolution, Anxiety, and the Origins of Literature. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN 9780803232976. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  6. ^ Chansky, Tamar E. (2001). Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Random House LLC. pp. 7, 28, 39, 181, 190. ISBN 0812931173. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  7. ^ Slaughter, Adele. "Shalhoub brings obsessive compulsive disorder to light". USA Today. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  8. ^ Olson, Tom (June 2003). "Buddhism, Behavior Change, and OCD". Journal of Holistic Nursing. 21 (2): 151–162. doi:10.1177/0898010103021002005. PMID 12794958. S2CID 45102527.
  9. ^ Volk, Steve (December 11, 2013). "Rewiring the Brain to Treat OCD". Discover Magazine. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2014.