4 ms·

International comparisons would really help a lot to understand the phenomena... I find that there is a tendency by many North Americans to find pseudo-biologic

by kome 10y ago

International comparisons would really help a lot to understand the phenomena... I find that there is a tendency by many North Americans to find pseudo-biological justification about everything. In other words: trying to find individual solutions ("my dopamine is so messed up!") to social problems.

simonsarris 10y ago
It is at least somewhat culturally local to the US because the US allows direct-to-consumer advertising, which for years pushed the "chemical imbalance" line. Problem is the "chemical imbalance" line is a myth, there's no evidence that depression is caused by a serotonin imbalance or an imbalance of anything else (easily) testable. It was only ever a theory and one that's not very well regarded. See [1], but there are loads more criticizing it. [1] http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392 http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/jou...
drzaiusapelord 10y ago
The largest users of anti-depressants are socialist style nations like Iceland, Australia, and Portugal. These countries are run almost the opposite of the US. So there's more than the usual liberal criticisms of how the US is too competitive/not competitive enough or has too easy access to drugs/not enough or whatever applies here. >North Americans to find pseudo-biological justification about everything. Yet the above nations are nowhere near N America. Perhaps this issue is a lot complex than you care to understand. I guess if you want ad-impresions then you must cater to people's ignorance and biases and leave any facts, science, or statistics out of it.
- kome 10y ago
  Regarding the use antidepressants, the USA beats everybody, according to OECD data: http://static5.techinsider.io/image/56b363792e526551008b4c1d-1200-1183/ti_graphics_antidepressants-chart.png http://static5.techinsider.io/image/56b363792e526551008b4c1d... Also: Iceland, Australia, and Portugal cannot be called socialist by any stretch of the imagination.
  - drzaiusapelord 10y ago
    http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/these-are-the-countries-that-consume-the-most-antidepressants--WJvJPf5WFx?utm_source=indy&utm_medium=top5&utm_campaign=i100 http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/these-are-the-count... source: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2015_health_glance-2015-en#page187 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-... This is 2005 data btw.
rtpg 10y ago
This is such a harmful comment, and perpetuates lies about the state of understanding of ADHD. ADHD is basically the most studied and best understood psychological condition out there. People who get treatment (medical treatment! Treatment without medication is a major uphill battle) have a 60+% response rate, with something like 30% of people having almost total recovery of symptoms. This is much better than "real" conditions like bipolar disorders and "well most people think it's real" things like depression. If you think we can diagnose and treat bipolar, then acknowledging ADHD as a real thing that does affect a lot of people is the next logical step. A bit of a rant but I think a lot society is still in denial about ADHD mainly because the symptoms look a lot like behaviour we expect from children. And of course that denial makes ADHD sufferers feel like shit and shuts down most paths for recourse...

by kome 10y ago

simonsarris 10y ago

It is at least somewhat culturally local to the US because the US allows direct-to-consumer advertising, which for years pushed the "chemical imbalance" line. Problem is the "chemical imbalance" line is a myth, there's no evidence that depression is caused by a serotonin imbalance or an imbalance of anything else (easily) testable. It was only ever a theory and one that's not very well regarded. See [1], but there are loads more criticizing it. [1] http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392 http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/jou...

drzaiusapelord 10y ago

The largest users of anti-depressants are socialist style nations like Iceland, Australia, and Portugal. These countries are run almost the opposite of the US. So there's more than the usual liberal criticisms of how the US is too competitive/not competitive enough or has too easy access to drugs/not enough or whatever applies here. >North Americans to find pseudo-biological justification about everything. Yet the above nations are nowhere near N America. Perhaps this issue is a lot complex than you care to understand. I guess if you want ad-impresions then you must cater to people's ignorance and biases and leave any facts, science, or statistics out of it.

kome 10y ago
Regarding the use antidepressants, the USA beats everybody, according to OECD data: http://static5.techinsider.io/image/56b363792e526551008b4c1d-1200-1183/ti_graphics_antidepressants-chart.png http://static5.techinsider.io/image/56b363792e526551008b4c1d... Also: Iceland, Australia, and Portugal cannot be called socialist by any stretch of the imagination.
- drzaiusapelord 10y ago
  http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/these-are-the-countries-that-consume-the-most-antidepressants--WJvJPf5WFx?utm_source=indy&utm_medium=top5&utm_campaign=i100 http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/these-are-the-count... source: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2015_health_glance-2015-en#page187 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-... This is 2005 data btw.

rtpg 10y ago

This is such a harmful comment, and perpetuates lies about the state of understanding of ADHD. ADHD is basically the most studied and best understood psychological condition out there. People who get treatment (medical treatment! Treatment without medication is a major uphill battle) have a 60+% response rate, with something like 30% of people having almost total recovery of symptoms. This is much better than "real" conditions like bipolar disorders and "well most people think it's real" things like depression. If you think we can diagnose and treat bipolar, then acknowledging ADHD as a real thing that does affect a lot of people is the next logical step. A bit of a rant but I think a lot society is still in denial about ADHD mainly because the symptoms look a lot like behaviour we expect from children. And of course that denial makes ADHD sufferers feel like shit and shuts down most paths for recourse...