Thomas Szasz (left) debates Albert Ellis (right) – 1977
In 1977 a psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Szasz and a psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis, engaged in vigorous debate about the concept of “mental illness” and many other topics. The full video is probably available in the closest university library, and clips of the debate are available in a quick Google search. There are a few points over which I might quibble with Szasz, but on the whole he makes mincemeat of Ellis. This is not to gloat about winning arguments, rather, it is to celebrate the courage, good humor, wit, and wisdom of a man who did much to defend common sense, liberty, and responsibility.
To the best of his ability, Thomas Szasz boldly declared the truth about psychiatry. The truth is, as Szasz articulated so well in this debate, that psychiatrists are “bastards, evil, money-grubbing.” Szasz was not criticizing the innocent. He was denouncing criminals. And he was right.
Psychiatric Survivors 
One thing to note is that Ellis was not a psychiatrist, he was a psychologist.