Manufacturing Depression: A journey into the economy of melancholy (2007)

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/05/manufacturing-depression/

by Mandatum • 12 years ago

24 3 12 years ago

harpers.org

sliverstorm• 12 years ago

May I suggest the single page version:

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/05/manufacturing-depression/...

AshFurrow• 12 years ago

I mean, interesting story and a great anecdote, but it is just that: an anecdote. These are the views of one person who clearly has an anti-psychopharmalogical worldview.

I have depression and it frustrates me to no end when the clinic doctors I see to renew my prescriptions act as though I don't need them – that I would be better off without my medication. I don't really care if I'm getting better because of the placebo effect and I don't care if I'm getting better and that actually benefits a drug company. I just care that I'm getting better.

pc2g4d• 12 years ago

You probably should care because antidepressants are not benign. They _are_ psychoactive and will have long-term effects on your brain, not to mention your liver and probably your gut. They induce strong dependence and are incredibly difficult to get off of. Plus there's the money---thousands of dollars if you stay on those things for years, like so many people do. If you actually don't need antidepressants then you really are better off without them---I think that's what your doctors are saying.

Sounds like you've been having a hard time getting out of your depression. If medication feels like it's helping then I say go for it, but you need to be aware of the potential costs, as well as alternatives. Therapy and exercise are two alternatives with far fewer side effects that may be even more effective than medication.

If you think your response to the meds is due to placebo effect (odds are that that's true) then that's good, because the placebo effect can be triggered by many things that are not pills. Just doing something that _feels_ like it would be effective is usually enough to _be_ effective.

Manufacturing Depression: A journey into the economy of melancholy (2007)

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