originally published 12/1/1999
In his book, The Antidepressant Era (Harvard, 1999), David Healy charts the history of changing perceptions of disease and health by looking at the development of antidepressant drugs. He discusses how definitions of health are shaped not just by medical science, but also by intertwining social, cultural, and economic forces. As an example, Healy talks about an American culture that increasingly pathologies shyness and celebrates outgoing and even aggressive personalities and celebrities. In this context, pharmaceutical companies market their products directly to the public, warning of an “epidemic of shyness” and social anxiety. When the sculpting of personality with the help of drugs becomes accepted as a goal of the medical industry, it becomes harder to understand “disease” and “disorder” accurately.
16 minutes
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