![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 4:56:13
It started in the distant mists of time with opium, canibis and alcohol, moved onto bromides in the 1840's, expanded with chloral, sulphonyl and paralderhyde in the late 18th centuary, and realy took hold when the barbiturates were discivered in the early 20th centuary..... then in the 1950's it exploded, amphetamines, Dexamyl, Thorazine, Tofranil, Nardil,Milotwn and in 1960, Librium.
We have been medicating unhappiness since the dawn of time, and today Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and the SSRI's are just the latest rebirth of this
Posted by floatingbridge on June 14, 2011, at 5:14:33
In reply to Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 4:56:13
I don't understand this bottom part:
> We have been medicating unhappiness since the dawn of time, and today Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and the SSRI's are just the latest rebirth of this
How is trying to treat MDD and Bipolar disorders related to medicating
unhappiiness? Those disorders are not instances of mere unhappiness.fb
Posted by bleauberry on June 14, 2011, at 5:15:57
In reply to Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 4:56:13
Unhappiness and major depression are not at all the same thing. Apples and oranges.
Posted by SLS on June 14, 2011, at 5:25:57
In reply to Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 4:56:13
> It started in the distant mists of time with opium, canibis and alcohol, moved onto bromides in the 1840's, expanded with chloral, sulphonyl and paralderhyde in the late 18th centuary, and realy took hold when the barbiturates were discivered in the early 20th centuary..... then in the 1950's it exploded, amphetamines, Dexamyl, Thorazine, Tofranil, Nardil,Milotwn and in 1960, Librium.
>
> We have been medicating unhappiness since the dawn of time, and today Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and the SSRI's are just the latest rebirth of thisDid you read this somewhere? Depression evaluation devices ask more questions that deal with vegetative symptoms than feelings of unhappiness. I do get the feeling that, at least in the US, psychotropic medication is dispensed too liberally. However, I believe that most competent psychiatrist do not use a "happiness scale" or complaints of unhappiness to assess major depressive disorder.
Are we always to focus on incompetence as if it represented the majority?
- Scott
Posted by phillipa on June 14, 2011, at 11:28:24
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on June 14, 2011, at 5:25:57
I think I follow a question I've asked myself. In my case is it depression or just not being happy creating the low feeling? Is this what you mean? Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 14:12:13
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by phillipa on June 14, 2011, at 11:28:24
I think there's some truth to this. I mean, yes severe depression, bipolar disorder,schizophrenia, and severe anxiety can have terrible effects on one's life and they should be dealt with, but I can't help but think that some (a lot?) of people, at least here in the US, are being medicated for unhappiness that results from other causes--un(der)emplyment, bad relationships, "affluenza," etc. I don't know if that's the case in other countries.
Personally, I wish we could just dispense with the prescription system and have the drugs on an open market. That's what Dr.Thomas Szasz advocates, and i have to say I see his point, even though I'm definitely not a libertarian. I mean, if we had an open market, who on earth would take 1/2-2/3 of the "medications" that are currently popular? I know if I had the choice between an antidepressant and some PRN Ativan, or an opiate, I'd take the "fun" stuff, use it responsibly, and go about my business. I also think this sort of a system would discourage the creation of "me-too" drugs and might make drug makers actually innovate and create psychiatric meds that (gasp) made you feel better. Quickly.
I don't have a problem with drugs to get by. Whether you're hearing voices, anxious and unable to leave your house, or just plain melancholy, careful use of drugs/medications can make life better.
Posted by sigismund on June 14, 2011, at 15:30:36
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 14:12:13
>I also think this sort of a system would discourage the creation of "me-too" drugs and might make drug makers actually innovate and create psychiatric meds that (gasp) made you feel better. Quickly.
Absolooootly
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 17:30:48
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness » jono_in_adelaide, posted by floatingbridge on June 14, 2011, at 5:14:33
I think thatt hey are the same disorders that used to be called neurosis, neurasthenia etc - we keep inventing new drugs and new diseases, for what are basicly the same problems.
Posted by zero on June 14, 2011, at 17:53:10
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 17:30:48
I'm with jono on this.
Just as most everyone used to die "of old age", now we're more specific with our causes.
Same thing with head/psych/mental (and some spiritual overlap) type things.
I didn't sense any value judgement on this. I certainly don't have one.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 14, 2011, at 18:13:22
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness » jono_in_adelaide, posted by floatingbridge on June 14, 2011, at 5:14:33
I'm not riding this conversation through again.
The topic is too muddied.
If someone treats 'mere' unhappiness with an ssri, sobeit. That's a topic onto itself.
Can those with MDD, Bipolar disorder, etc be left outside the sweeping philosophical discussion?
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 18:17:48
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by zero on June 14, 2011, at 17:53:10
No value judgement - just a comment on the string of so called wonder drugs that were going to make unhappiness a thing of the past, all of which have failed to some extent.
Some of them were not real advances (for example, Miltown or Doriden werent much of an improvement on the barbiturates, some were huge leaps forward, for example, chlorpromazine, chlordiazepoxide and imipramine revolutionised the teatment of mental illness, yet there still seem to be just as many depressed uphappy people out there.
I knw big pharma take a lot of abuse from a lot of people, but I think we owe them a lot. The Soviet pharma industry, which lacked a profit motive, didnt intorduce one life changing drug in the 70 years it existed for, during the time when western big pharma changed life as we know it.
I just wonder why with all the advances, there are still so many unhappy, depressed, anxoius people - are doctors not using the drugs right, or are peoples expectations changing, does "the bar" continue to gte higher.
The thread was realy an esoteric question, just me thinking out load
Posted by phillipa on June 14, 2011, at 20:48:05
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 14, 2011, at 18:17:48
I feel the world has changed from simplistic to overwhelming demands on people who work to those just trying to see a doctor. Insurances economy has created a disaster. Unfortunately no happy pills. Well maybe some but are they legal? Phillipa
Posted by europerep on June 15, 2011, at 9:48:33
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by floatingbridge on June 14, 2011, at 18:13:22
> I'm not riding this conversation through again.
>
> The topic is too muddied.
>
> If someone treats 'mere' unhappiness with an ssri, sobeit. That's a topic onto itself.
>
> Can those with MDD, Bipolar disorder, etc be left outside the sweeping philosophical discussion?Agreed.
I do believe that not every "depression" is MDD. Recently, in the chat of a different forum, a woman (30yrs) told me how she too suffered from depression. Before, she told me how she loved her new job, how she was on vacation a few months ago and it was great, and how she was going to a great party that weekend which would surely be lots of fun. Right... If you're able to do these things, you don't suffer from depression. Maybe she did at some point in her life, but when she mentioned depression she was clearly talking present tense.
I feel we need to understand depression better, and if it's just to have a test that her doctor could do on her and then tell her "you don't have depression".
But saying that all depression is unhappiness is nonsense in my eyes.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 15, 2011, at 22:32:33
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness » floatingbridge, posted by europerep on June 15, 2011, at 9:48:33
"But saying that all depression is unhappiness is nonsense in my eyes"
Oh, I agree - I was actualy getting at the opposite, there seems to be a trend to see all unhappiness as depression.
eg. A co-workers wife left him, and he developed generalised itching. A doctor said it was because of "stress" and gave him Zoloft.
What are the chances of Zoloft being effective in this situation? I'd say 3/5 of 5/8 of **** all
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 15, 2011, at 22:34:33
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness » floatingbridge, posted by europerep on June 15, 2011, at 9:48:33
Oh, and a good friend who was unhappy at work and not sleeping because he was continualy arguing with a co worker. Doctor gave him an SSRI.
Naturaly, didnt have any effect.
A few Valium might have helped him, and so would some advice to toughen up a bit, but the chances of an SSRI doing anything seem almost nil
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2011, at 20:18:38
In reply to Re: Medicating Unhappiness, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 15, 2011, at 22:34:33
So you also feel that not all anxiety or sleeplesness is depression as I don't so why the SSRI's and not just the benzos. Worked well for me til ad added. Plus after riding 6 miles on bike just finished scrubbing the whole side of our house and cleaning the windows on one side does this sound like depression? Bad back made it so hard to do. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.