UP Ibalon Bicol: Rising antidepressant use in USA & the nation’s state of mental health

Rising antidepressant use in USA & the nation’s state of mental health

8/05/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

In a recent study which appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry, Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University in New York and Steven Marcus of University of Pennsylvania disclosed that the use of antidepressants in America had astronomically increased: 13 million people received prescriptions in 1996 versus 27 million in 2005----a doubling rise in less than 10 years.

If so, the number of those needing to up their mood medically now accounts for about 10% of the population. The study shows that the diagnosis of depression is more common and having the malady is more acceptable now than in past decade.

One way of looking at this is by considering the secular world. In a liberal society where traditional values and beliefs have been replaced by materialism, more people contract emotional and mental problems. There are more sufferers of psycho-emotional instability in an alienating world---more so when support systems are frayed and families ties are disrupted. Coincident to the stresses of 911 and the economic slump, Americans are increasingly in need of medications more than any people in the planet.

"Although there was little change in total promotional spending for antidepressants between 1999 ($0.98 billion) and 2005 ($1.02 billion), there was a marked increase in the percentage of this spending that was devoted to direct-to consumer advertising, from 3.3 percent ($32 million) to 12 percent ($122.00 million)."---Source: Reuters (08/03/09, Barbara, P.)

Considering the drug industry, 164 million prescriptions had been prescribed last year generating about $9.6 billion sales. The unbridled use of these medicines pushed by pharmaceuticals could be attributed to many factors, but in my opinion, “medicalization” of depression had been part of it. The promotion of antidepressants to keep mental health had been going on. Treatment rather than prevention was the emphasis. There had been a tendency to treat reflexively without allowing the normal healing mechanisms to take care of itself.

Americans seems in danger of losing their natural ability to regulate their minds and feelings if they heavily rely on antidepressants. I believe this does not bode well on the well-being of the country. Blunting their natural coping mechanisms, Americans can't continue taking antidepressants for their emotional and mental problems.

The use of antidepressants continues to rise even if warnings have been issued of the heightened risk of suicidal thoughts and tendency for suicide even among teenagers. There is an increase of those wishing to end their life among the middle aged.

In spite of the widespread use of antidepressants, there is no indication that America is in any way mentally healthy. Americans tend to use drugs for they are readily available. Psychotherapy is harder to obtain; it’s time-consuming, labor-intensive, and insurance reimbursement is low. (Photo Credit: aga.moreno) =0=

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Labels: antidepressant, drugs, Health, mental, prescription medicines, psychiatry, psychotherapy, Totie Mesia

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Rising antidepressant use in USA & the nation’s state of mental health

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