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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by poser938 on February 3, 2014, at 12:28:41
I find classic articles to be interesting. I think its best to look at the history of Psychiatric views as well as today's Psychiatric viewpoints. Though this Article isn't THAT old compared to when mood problems first started being treated with Psychiatric meds, I still find it interesting. I'd love to find the Classic News Week article from March 1990 on Prozac when it first came out, that basically described it as a miracle for Depression.
Posted by baseball55 on February 3, 2014, at 18:56:07
In reply to January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles, posted by poser938 on February 3, 2014, at 12:28:41
> http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/09/business/the-drug-makers-are-listening-to-prozac.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
>
> I find classic articles to be interesting. I think its best to look at the history of Psychiatric views as well as today's Psychiatric viewpoints. Though this Article isn't THAT old compared to when mood problems first started being treated with Psychiatric meds, I still find it interesting. I'd love to find the Classic News Week article from March 1990 on Prozac when it first came out, that basically described it as a miracle for Depression.Have you ever read Listening to Prozac by Peter Kramer? This was written soon after Prozac came out and was like this paean to Prozac. Very influential.
Posted by baseball55 on February 3, 2014, at 19:00:49
In reply to January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles, posted by poser938 on February 3, 2014, at 12:28:41
Sorry for the above post. I hadn't yet read the NYT article. It references Kramer's book. I remember reading it years and years ago -- long before I became depressed. After I actually got hit by MDD and discovered that SSRIs did virtually nothing for me, I went back and reread the book. I hated it the second time round - unscientific, written to be a blockbuster, not to help or illuminate anything.
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2014, at 22:06:56
In reply to January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles, posted by poser938 on February 3, 2014, at 12:28:41
Funny my Sister and her friends used to call Paxil their happy pill. Phillipa
Posted by alexandra_k on February 4, 2014, at 2:59:26
In reply to Re: January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles, posted by baseball55 on February 3, 2014, at 19:00:49
I read it once. Fairly swiftly.
The earlier stuff... I feel like 'I'm not qualified to say'. Emotionally... I wanted to believe him. But that was the problem, I thought. If you want to hit best seller list: Way to go. If you want the truth / a lasting impact: You are going to need to reference / do your research / present your research better than that.
I was most interested in the stuff nearer the end. With respect to the distinction (that is very problematic) between (my words now) dys-function (something wrong or broken that would be better off fixed) dif-function (differences that aren't better or worse across the board) or super-function (e.g., nose job for cosmetic reasons, stimulants to help everybody function better).
Suppose prozac was this wonderful magical drug that made everyone feel happier. (It isn't - but lets suppose for the sake of argument that it is. Or... If you prefer: Consider x. X is stipulated / defined to be wonderful magical drug that makes everyone feel happier).
- Is it morally justifyable for everyone to take prozac / x?
Or is there (or is this a category error) perhaps... some function for unhappiness?
Are people sometimes unhappy because they are RELIABLY TRACKING horrible life circumstances. Here's a thought: Instead of improving social policy... Instead of improving housing... education... sanitation... instead of getting battered wives out of abusive households... battered children out of abusive households... etc etc etc... lets just give everyone happy pills!!!
I enjoyed it insofar as it considered the issue that (for me) is at the crux of psychiatry: how does the social and the biological play along???
Posted by alexandra_k on February 4, 2014, at 3:02:58
In reply to Re: January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles » baseball55, posted by alexandra_k on February 4, 2014, at 2:59:26
a very kind p-doc once gave to me lorazepam because he was unable to alter my life circumstances (no beds in hospital / in respite care). it was a matter of... tiding me over for 6 or 7 days or so.
because he wasn't able to alter my life circumstances (get me into respite) he gave me a medication that would sedate me into caring less. a medication with known anteriograde amnesia effects (i would be less likely to lay down new memories of what happened during this time).
GIVEN that he was unable to alter my living circumstances this was the kindest thing he could do.
but...
to consider psychiatry to be primarily biological rather than social is to... for instance... pour even more money into government subsidised (free!) medications when what is really needed is more respite beds. for example.
something has gone very wrong.
Posted by poser938 on February 4, 2014, at 22:15:47
In reply to Re: January 9, 1994 Classic AD Articles, posted by baseball55 on February 3, 2014, at 19:00:49
> Sorry for the above post. I hadn't yet read the NYT article. It references Kramer's book. I remember reading it years and years ago -- long before I became depressed. After I actually got hit by MDD and discovered that SSRIs did virtually nothing for me, I went back and reread the book. I hated it the second time round - unscientific, written to be a blockbuster, not to help or illuminate anything.
I've only heard of it. Yeah, I don't think I could read a whole book praising antidepressants and psychiatry. I think I'd prefer something more like "Talking Back To Prozac".
But I just like reading classic articles to get a feel for the views on the newer generation of meds when the first came out. I find it interesting.
This is the end of the thread.
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