The marketing of mental illness

In "Talking back to Prozac," Joshua Kendall profiles British psychiatrist David Healy, who argues that the makers of antidepressants have too much influence on researchers, regulators, and our very definition of mental illness. Have drug companies exaggerated the extent of depression as well as the safety of their products? And if so, what should the Food and Drug Administration do about it?
Read the story: Talking back to Prozac
Share your thoughts

Page 1

“Let Them Eat Prozac” author, Mr. Healy say’s “Eli Lilly’s Prozac and its siblings may actually increase rather than reduce the risk of suicide.” This family of drugs is very dangerous and the problem goes beyond suicide. All the copycat schoolyard murders of the late 80s and 90’s, armed with look alike assault rifles were on a combination of Prozac and other drugs. All killed innocent children and adults and then committed suicide. The Food and Drug Administration is not doing its job, protecting America and its citizens.

Bob, Wakefield, MA

I think that depression is a very widespread, very real problem, but the extent of depression may be exaggerated to some extent by companies in order to sell more medication. I'm not sure that medication is the best solution for depression as often as it is prescribed. We live in the society of the "quick-fix prescription", when a lot of the time methods like daily exercise or therapy could work just as well, without altering our state of mind artificially.

Julia, The Fenway

The drug companies are the drug pushers of today and must be stopped. Every young person is growing up that the solution to problems IS DRUGS! Drugs for Sex, Depression, Anxiety, and Health. I saw 5 drug commercials in 10 minutes. I counted them. It's horrible that the communication is a society that is unstable. Because we are all not unstable! They have invented or redefined symptoms to MEAN something that can be SOLVED using THEIR DRUGS! It's Not Okay! I almost fell down when I almost filled a prescription for a drug to help with smoking. It floored me when you could have hallucinations, unconciousness, and pass out on occasion... WHAT!! I didn't fill it, and my doctor told me its really not going to help anyway, it's for anxiety really. Europe has been distributing nicotione tablets at your strength for years to cure lung cancer and in France Lung Cancer has declined 60% since they have been giving it out, however in the united states, a doctor cannot prescribe nictione, as it is an addictive drug at full strength to the patient. It's so bizzar... So you have lung cancer and everyone smoking cigarettes when they could have a choice. Anyway, Prozac, Zannax, and everything else is being pushed. I had a meeting with Administor's in the public school forum that more than 3/4 of its employees is on something for anxiety or depression. It was laughed about... That's gross... In order to be a teacher, administrator you have to be on drugs? And, it's okay!!! Socially acceptable... Well, it's not okay and something should be done about it. Where is our Society going....

Pamela, Quincy

There is no question that drug companies have exagerrated the safety of their products. Its a corporate market now and drug manufacturers are going to do whatever it takes to be more competitive and make more money. I'm not sure to what extent antidepressants have exagerated their products but I would be very skeptical. Depression is a serious problem in today's world and I know that for many people, antidepressants dont really help. I do believe that drugs by themselves are overrated. Any drug that is not natural should not be the solution. That is not to say we cant have progress but what's progress when you have violent garbage shown every day on tv?If CBS had allowed the anti Bush ad to be aired during the Super Bowl, I think many depressed people would feel relief. Every day people are bombarded with so much meaningless information that we forget what's really important. Who is going to pay for Bush's trillion dollar deficit? Corporations dont care. Its too much at stake for them and we're supposed to believe that everything's okay. If it was, we probably wouldn't need these drugs.

Ben , Braintree