Posted by Racer on April 6, 2006, at 1:51:36
In reply to Re: there are other methods of depression treatment » kingdavid20, posted by FredPotter on April 5, 2006, at 23:19:14
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> While on the subject of curing depression without drugs, I think the break up of the extended family since the second world war is a lot to do with it. Apparently depression has increased 10 fold in the West since then. I could give a reference for thatAh, but I have to ask...
Has the incidence of depression increased 10fold since the Second World War? Or has the DIAGNOSIS of depression increased since then? Is the increase apparent, or real? And is the break down of the extended family a cause of that? Or merely a correlate? Even if it is a cause, is it a major cause? Or one of many causes?
I know -- I really am in geek-mode right now. You've got a good point, and I happen to think that changes in family and community have increased the risk of depression. I'd even make some of my own arguments there. But I also think some other things have changed that contribute a lot, as well, to the increase in DIAGNOSIS of depression.
For one thing, jobs have changed. No more 30 years and a gold watch, you know? Pensions? HA!
There's less stigma about depression, with great thanks to half the celebrities out there for that. And there are drugs to treat it effectively.
Personally, I'd bet the actual incidence of depression is pretty stable, but before WWII, there were more community supports and familial supports in place. I'd also bet there were fewer diagnoses made before doctors had safe and easy drugs, like the SSRIs, to prescribe for it. Even when I first went on ADs, it was pretty rare because they were Serious Drugs and required a trained and experienced psychiatrist to prescribe them. Cardiotoxicity in overdose was a big reason, but the side effects were pretty significant, too.
OK. I'm done. And I'm late for my Geeks Anonymous meeting...
poster:Racer
thread:629458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060403/msgs/629518.html