August 17, 2007

Is depression over-diagnosed?

An interesting online debate in the BMJ this week.

The discussion is framed as follows.

Rates of diagnosis of depression have risen steeply in recent years. One view holds that this is because current criteria are medicalizing sadness. Another argues that many people are still missing out on lifesaving treatment.

Posted by schwitz at August 17, 2007 01:41 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I definitely see a need for treatment, but not of the pharmaceutical kind. It's a shame that pharmaceutical companies stand to make so much profit from the unseen terrors of many new ailments. Depression is easy to pray on, because to a degree at some point everyone goes through it. Prescription drugs are not the first thing Americans should be turning to, really for many people, they shouldn't be an option. Drug companies want the population think that prescriptions are expected. The problem is if you prolong the lives of humankind, who will pay these enormous long term medical cost?

Posted by: Micah at August 18, 2007 05:54 PM

Unfortunately, doctors prescribe depression drugs to almost everyone anymore. They give these drugs even to children and elderly people, especially, when they can not be sure what problem the patient really has.

Here is a cartoon that tells all about it

http://www.newstarget.com/021230.html

Posted by: Dylan at August 23, 2007 08:58 AM
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