State Board Expands Charges Against Wenatchee `Prozac' Psychologist

OLYMPIA - The state has expanded the misconduct charges against Wenatchee psychologist Jim Goodwin, a leading advocates of the antidepressant drug Prozac.

Goodwin dismissed the new statement from the Examining Board of Psychology as "just new wording for old charges." He predicted he will be vindicated and will keep his license.

Goodwin has received national attention for his advocacy of the drug, along with new cognitive therapies, to deal with depressed clients.

By his own account, he has treated more than 700 patients who take Prozac or similar drugs. He says he has taken Prozac since 1989.

The state board said additional complaints from consumers led to the recent filing of broader charges.

The board now alleges that Goodwin required all of his patients to take an antidepressant, tried to verbally intimidate clients into staying in treatment, lacked sufficient information for many of his diagnoses, "divulged inappropriate information about himself in vulgar crude and intrusive ways," and broke client confidentiality by introducing potential clients to his current patients.

In May, the board said Goodwin is impaired by a form of manic depression and an unspecified cognitive disorder. The board wants to take away his license.