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M$3.50
Why has the use of Antidepressants gone up?
--quote--
another mental health study this week is sparking lots of discussion: the number of Americans taking antidepressants increased from about 6 percent in 1996 to 10 percent in 2005, or from 13 million to about 27 million people.
Meanwhile, the number of people being treated with antidepressants who also sought help from a therapist declined. Researchers think high out-of-pocket costs and insurance barriers could be to blame
--/quote--
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2009/08/antidepressant_use_doubles.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-discusses-the-abu_b_255183.html
another mental health study this week is sparking lots of discussion: the number of Americans taking antidepressants increased from about 6 percent in 1996 to 10 percent in 2005, or from 13 million to about 27 million people.
Meanwhile, the number of people being treated with antidepressants who also sought help from a therapist declined. Researchers think high out-of-pocket costs and insurance barriers could be to blame
--/quote--
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2009/08/antidepressant_use_doubles.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-discusses-the-abu_b_255183.html
voted interesting: kalane M$0.50
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The rise in the use of antidepressants is being fundamentally driven by an increase in the availability of safe and effective medications to treat depression combined with the awareness of depression as a disease that can be treated with medications.
Historically, before anti-depressant medications were available depression was a condition that largely went both undiagnosed by a medical professionals and untreated. A visit to the doctor was largely seen as an opportunity to address physical problems and not long term issues of depression, early medications were not widely prescribed nor widely used. In the 1990s a new class of products called SSRIs, or Serontin inhibitors, were introduced with the introduction of Prozac. The theory of these medications where that they could help the brain deal chemically with depression by inhibiting the supply (or reuptake) of Serontonin. The first and very famous pharmaceutical was called Prozac which fundamentally changed how doctors delt with issues of long term depression and gave them a medicine to prescribe patients along with Pyscotherapy. What these medications tapped into was a long and unmet medical need for the millions of people who fight there whole lives with long and prolonged feelings of depression.
The medical industry and the pharmaceutical industry recognized this as untapped and largely untreated patient population that for generations were largely ignored and the uptake in products like Prozac created an industry that fueled research and development into the field of depression and funded the innovation of new and more targeted medicines. At the same time the FDA allowed advertising directly to patients which assisted in the fueling of patient request to be given medications.
At the same time the population in western europe and the USA continues to age and the disease profiles for patients and people evolve from traditional physical ailments or emergencies to treating people mental state. It is no doubt that now that depression is considered a disease and there is a medication to be given that more people and doctors will opt for it. The question that many ask, Is society better off with all of these anti-depressant prescribing and where does it stop? This is a very difficult question and the answer is complex.
Historically, before anti-depressant medications were available depression was a condition that largely went both undiagnosed by a medical professionals and untreated. A visit to the doctor was largely seen as an opportunity to address physical problems and not long term issues of depression, early medications were not widely prescribed nor widely used. In the 1990s a new class of products called SSRIs, or Serontin inhibitors, were introduced with the introduction of Prozac. The theory of these medications where that they could help the brain deal chemically with depression by inhibiting the supply (or reuptake) of Serontonin. The first and very famous pharmaceutical was called Prozac which fundamentally changed how doctors delt with issues of long term depression and gave them a medicine to prescribe patients along with Pyscotherapy. What these medications tapped into was a long and unmet medical need for the millions of people who fight there whole lives with long and prolonged feelings of depression.
The medical industry and the pharmaceutical industry recognized this as untapped and largely untreated patient population that for generations were largely ignored and the uptake in products like Prozac created an industry that fueled research and development into the field of depression and funded the innovation of new and more targeted medicines. At the same time the FDA allowed advertising directly to patients which assisted in the fueling of patient request to be given medications.
At the same time the population in western europe and the USA continues to age and the disease profiles for patients and people evolve from traditional physical ailments or emergencies to treating people mental state. It is no doubt that now that depression is considered a disease and there is a medication to be given that more people and doctors will opt for it. The question that many ask, Is society better off with all of these anti-depressant prescribing and where does it stop? This is a very difficult question and the answer is complex.
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Thanks you did a great job answering this, I appreciate the historical references.
Tip jeffhoard for this comment
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Authors of study (archives of general psychiatry journal) suggest greater emphasis on "pharmacologic rather than psychologic" care.
Many people had issues before the recession,but it got worse due to the recession. So many went to the pharmacist to get their antidepressants.
http://www.current.com/items/90246529_antidepressant-use-soar
http://www.current.com/items/90246529_antidepressant-use-soar
There are several reasons for the increase in antidepressant use, some of which overlap the reasons for the decrease in "talk therapy" (which is misleading; although the percentage of patients seeking therapy has decreased, the actual number of patients has increased slightly).
--There has been increased acceptance of psychiatric conditions such as depression; they are considered more as medical conditions rather than as "character flaws" under the person's control.
--Antidepressants have been advertised to the general public as a quick and easy "one-size-fits-all" solution to a complex and highly individualized problem.
--Many health insurance plans place strict limits on the amounts paid for counseling, while antidepressants are treated like any other prescription medication. If the person has no health insurance, generic antidepressants are far less expensive than counseling.
Increased awareness of mental illness is a good thing, and there are undoubtedly a lot of depressed people who found out about their condition or decided to do something about it because of advertising. However, since large corporations don't profit from counseling services, the advertising is skewed in terms of the treatment options it presents. The limited coverage of therapy by the insurance companies only helps to preserve the status quo and discourage what may be a more effective (and cost-effective in the long term) comprehensive and individualized treatment program.
--There has been increased acceptance of psychiatric conditions such as depression; they are considered more as medical conditions rather than as "character flaws" under the person's control.
--Antidepressants have been advertised to the general public as a quick and easy "one-size-fits-all" solution to a complex and highly individualized problem.
--Many health insurance plans place strict limits on the amounts paid for counseling, while antidepressants are treated like any other prescription medication. If the person has no health insurance, generic antidepressants are far less expensive than counseling.
Increased awareness of mental illness is a good thing, and there are undoubtedly a lot of depressed people who found out about their condition or decided to do something about it because of advertising. However, since large corporations don't profit from counseling services, the advertising is skewed in terms of the treatment options it presents. The limited coverage of therapy by the insurance companies only helps to preserve the status quo and discourage what may be a more effective (and cost-effective in the long term) comprehensive and individualized treatment program.
source(s):
http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20090803/antidepressant-use-nearly-dou...
and personal experience
http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20090803/antidepressant-use-nearly-dou...
and personal experience
I think alot of people go to their family physicians and tell them about what may be going on and instead of their physician suggesting a therapy they write out a prescription because they are in cahoots with drug companies. Also, people now and days are looking for a quick fix. No one wants to work on their problems in life. Take a little pill and hope it will all go away. When actually if you change your biology you can change your psychology!
The 'funny' answer would be to say that this is an effort to relieve the Depression we are currently in, but figures indicate an increase way before that happened.
A more probable explanation is that peoples' lives are getting more and more hectic. People have to work longer hours, have way more activities to divide their time on, have to raise children in the meantime, have more breakups/divorces, and generally a way more busy life.
Still, admitting that you are too busy, and want to slow down a bit is just not an option in our current world. If you can't keep up, you're considered weak.
This combined with a way less interest in spiritual guidance, people don't have a place to contemplate any more. Without that, they cannot relieve themselves of the built-up stress, become unhappy, and turn to drugs to 'stay in the game'.
Just my 2ct here..
A more probable explanation is that peoples' lives are getting more and more hectic. People have to work longer hours, have way more activities to divide their time on, have to raise children in the meantime, have more breakups/divorces, and generally a way more busy life.
Still, admitting that you are too busy, and want to slow down a bit is just not an option in our current world. If you can't keep up, you're considered weak.
This combined with a way less interest in spiritual guidance, people don't have a place to contemplate any more. Without that, they cannot relieve themselves of the built-up stress, become unhappy, and turn to drugs to 'stay in the game'.
Just my 2ct here..
hmm, which one counts more, what makes people depressed vs what makes them take antidepress-drugs?
Economic status and daily news are surely upsetting. however, people been dealing with these things for a long while, i really cant judge if it's a factor anymore!
Economic status and daily news are surely upsetting. however, people been dealing with these things for a long while, i really cant judge if it's a factor anymore!
I read something very interesting on this a few days ago.
When the economy is down, people are getting laid off and times are hard, depression and even suicides increase. With the advent of Cobra and continued medical care, people can seek medical help for this. So they are treated with anti-depressants.
When the economy is down, people are getting laid off and times are hard, depression and even suicides increase. With the advent of Cobra and continued medical care, people can seek medical help for this. So they are treated with anti-depressants.
source(s):
http://suicide.suite101.com/article.cfm/unemployment_can_triple_the_risk_of...
http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=8641
http://suicide.suite101.com/article.cfm/unemployment_can_triple_the_risk_of...
http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=8641
voted helpful: brian san
I think it's more easily given out these days. From my experience, all you have to do is tell the DR "I am depressed" and they will offer you an anti-depressant. It's a quick fix for depression. Plus, the drug companies have to be involved too It seems like to much work to take vitamins or excersize , eat healthy or talk it out.The pill is much easier to take.
source(s):
personal experience
personal experience
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