The Anatomy of an Epidemic depicts the various factors that underlie the establishment of the drugs used in the treatment of mentally ill people. The essay sheds some light on the various drugs that were introduced together with the cartels that rose to ensure that they at least profited from the sales of new drugs. The era of new drugs brought about some self-interests among the healthcare practitioners who saw to it that they got some profits from their inventions. Although some drugs were remarkable, there are others that had adverse effects on the people posing threats with prolonged use. The age of this medication was also marked by the establishment of some forms of containment of the mentally ill people, which really increased the amount of suffering of the patients.
Robert Whitaker starts with a brief explanation of the history of the health system in the United States in the Anatomy of an Epidemic. He discusses the early asylums created in the 1800s (Whitaker, 2010). These asylums were designed to house the mentally ill and provide them with treatment. However, many of these asylums were overcrowded and understaffed. These asylums led to poor conditions and abuse of the patients. Whitaker then discusses the introduction of lobotomy in the early 1900s (Whitaker, 2010). Lobotomy was a surgery that was designed to treat mental illness. However, it was often used to control patients who were considered difficult to deal with during the treatment.
The surgery was often done without the patient’s consent and could lead to serious complications. The author then discusses the development of antipsychotic medication in the 1950s (Whitaker, 2010). These medications were designed to treat the symptoms of mental illness. However, they often had serious side effects. The author describes how using these medications increased the number of people with chronic mental illnesses.
There was the introduction of drugs like Prozac, but the effects at that time were far worse than anticipated since the numbers grew in terms of patients with mental illness. The author concludes the chapter by discussing the deinstitutionalization taking place in mental health care practice all over the United States (Whitaker, 2010). This policy led to the closing of many mental health institutions. It also led to an increase in the number of homeless people with mental illness.
Whitaker continues to examine the roots of the modern-day epidemic of mental illness and psychiatric medication. He begins by looking at the history of mental illness and how different cultures have viewed it. He elaborates on the rise of psychiatric medication in the 20th century and how this has changed the way we view and treat mental illness. The current state of health is hence quite different from the previous one holding into account the various changes that have had to take place. Psychiatric treatment needs the keen intervention and personal care from the health care practitioners and even the family members. The need to show the mentally ill patients love remains outstanding and should be practiced by everybody since sometimes the recovery process might be hastened.
The author begins by looking at the history of mental illness and how different cultures have viewed it. He notes that mental illness has always been a part of human existence, but how it has been viewed and treated has varied widely across cultures. There is the aspect of evil possession in some cultures when individuals are found to be suffering from mental illnesses. In other cultures, mental illness has been seen as a sign of wisdom or spiritual power, and those suffering from it have been revered. The author notes that the modern-day view of mental illness is largely shaped by the Western view, which has tended to view mental illness as a medical condition that needs to be treated (Whitaker, 2010).
He then looks at the rise of the asylum in the 19th century and how this led to the development of the psychiatric profession. He notes that the rise of the asylum was a response to the increasing number of people with mental illness and that this led to the development of the psychiatric profession. The asylum was originally intended to be a place of refuge for those with mental illness, but it quickly became a place of warehousing and abuse. The conditions in the asylum led to the development of psychiatric medication, originally intended to treat the symptoms of mental illness.
Consequently, the rise of psychiatric medication in the 20th century has changed the way we view and treat mental illness. He notes that the use of psychiatric medication has increased dramatically in recent years and has led to a change in how we view mental illness. Psychiatric medication is now seen as the primary treatment for mental illness, which has led to a decline in the use of other treatment modalities, such as psychotherapy. There is hence the fact that the current state of the mental health epidemic is largely a result of the way people view and end up treating these illnesses and how they need to find ways to address them. Any single factor cannot explain mental illness in the United States. Rather, he suggests that it results from a complex social, economic, and cultural interaction.
In “Psychiatry’s Magic Bullets,” Whitaker (2010), argues that the use of psychiatric drugs has risen to epidemic proportions in recent years. He attributes this increase to the widespread belief that psychiatric drugs are safe and effective. However, Whitaker contends that these drugs are neither safe nor effective. He cites several studies to support his claim that psychiatric drugs can cause more harm than good. Whitaker begins by discussing the history of psychiatric drugs.
He notes that the first psychiatric drugs, such as chlorpromazine and lithium, were developed in the 1950s (Whitaker, 2010). These drugs were initially thought to be miraculous cures for mental illness. However, it soon became apparent that they had serious side effects. In the 1960s, several studies showed that psychiatric drugs could make mental illness worse. Despite these studies, the use of psychiatric drugs continued to increase. Whitaker attributes this increase to the influence of the pharmaceutical industry.
He continues to argue that the pharmaceutical industry is vested in promoting the use of psychiatric drugs. The industry funds research that is biased in favor of psychiatric drugs and promotes the use of these drugs through marketing and advertising. Whitaker suggests that the widespread use of psychiatric drugs is devastating to our society. He cites several studies that show that psychiatric drugs can cause several serious side effects, including suicide, violence, and psychosis. He also brings out that the use of psychiatric drugs contributes to the rising rates of mental illness in our society. Whitaker hence depicts that the use of psychiatric drugs is a major public health problem. He calls for a reevaluation of the use of these drugs. He also calls for more research into the long-term effects of these drugs.
The chemical imbalance theory of mental illness has existed for quite some time. It is based on the idea that certain chemicals in the brain are responsible for mood and behavior. When these chemicals are out of balance, it can lead to mental illness. There are several different ways that this theory has been proposed. One of the most popular among them is the serotonin theory. The theory states that serotonin is a brain chemical responsible for mood changes in an individual (Whitaker, 2010). When there is not enough serotonin, it can lead to depression.
Another popular theory that supplements the serotonin factor is the dopamine theory. The theory states that dopamine, another chemical in the brain, is responsible for motivation and pleasure. When there is not enough dopamine, it can lead to problems with motivation and pleasure. The chemical imbalance theory of mental illness has been hotly debated for many years. There are several different ways to test for chemical imbalances in the brain.
However, there is no definitive proof that chemical imbalances cause mental illness. There are several different treatments for mental illness that are based on the chemical imbalance theory. These treatments include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. However, there is no cure for mental illness. The chemical imbalance theory of mental illness is just one of many theories proposed to explain mental illness. There is no one cause of mental illness and no one to cure.
Robert continues to delve deep into the history of psychiatry and the various changes that have taken place since. The field has had to experience various ideas that constitute the treatment of different diseases, such as schizophrenia. Majorly the author brings to attention the contribution of various people who have played a major part in the improvement of the pharmaceutical area. Their major impact though having brought different experiences due to the emergence of the new drugs has continued to foster the development process of availing several medications to the people (Whitaker, 2010). He looks at these treatments in different dimensions since some formulate the drugs to make money, and some do it to save lives.
There is the aspect of diagnosis in chapter seventeen regarding depression that appears to be very common among a certain age group. Different symptoms develop in people and can turn into chronic illnesses that, if unchecked, would lead to worse adverse effects. In the late 1970s, a new kind of mental illness emerged in the United States (Whitaker, 2010). The illness that proves to be rampant, called major depression, is characterized by a loss of interest in life, hopelessness, and a sense of helplessness (Whitaker, 2010).
People who suffer from major depression often have difficulty functioning in their everyday lives. The prevalence of major depression has increased dramatically in the past few decades. The increase in the number of people suffering from major depression is not just due to the aging of the population. The rate of major depression among adults aged 18-29 has also increased. There are many possible explanations for the increase in the prevalence of major depression. One theory is that the increase is due to the increased awareness of the condition and the availability of treatment. Another theory is that the increase is due to the changing nature of society.
The next chapter talks about the bipolar boom, a term coined in the late 1990s to describe the dramatic increase in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in the United States. The number of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder grew from 1 in every 500 in 1980 to 1 in every 100 by 2000 (Whitaker, 2010). The diagnosis is later accompanied by a corresponding increase in the number of prescriptions for mood-stabilizing medications, such as lithium, as well as antipsychotic drugs.
The increase in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in the United States can be partially explained by the fact that mental health professionals and the general public have become more aware of the disorder and its symptoms in recent years. In addition, the development of new medications, such as atypical antipsychotics, has made it possible to treat the disorder more effectively.
Moreover, there is the rise of an ideology that has taken hold in America and how it has contributed to the country’s current mental health crisis. The ideology, Whitaker calls “biomedicalization,” believes that a chemical imbalance causes all mental illnesses in the brain and that drugs are the only way to treat them. The belief leads to a dramatic increase in the use of psychiatric medications, particularly antipsychotics, over the past few decades. While biomedicalization has been championed by the pharmaceutical industry and many mental health professionals, it has come under fire from a growing number of critics (Whitaker, 2010).
These critics point to the lack of evidence supporting the chemical imbalance theory and the serious side effects associated with psychiatric medications. They argue that the bio-medicalization of mental illness has led to the medicalization of normal human emotions and behavior, which is doing more harm than good.
Whitaker discusses the staggering profits that the psychiatric drug industry generates each year. According to Whitaker (2010), the industry rakes in an estimated $80 billion annually, making it one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Moreover, as the number of people taking psychiatric drugs continues to rise, so will the industry’s profits. Whitaker argues that the industry’s profits are large because psychiatric drugs are heavily marketed and prescribed. Whitaker points to the fact that the industry strongly influences the psychiatric profession (Whitaker, 2010). He notes that the industry funds most of the research on psychiatric drugs and provides a large amount of funding to psychiatric organizations. He calls for greater regulation of the industry and more transparency in its marketing and prescribing practices.
In the final chapter of the book, “Blueprints for Reform,” Dr. Whitaker talks about how we can change how we think about and treat mental illness. He proposes six specific reforms, including stopping using the word disease to describe mental illness and finding other drugs to use as a first-line treatment instead of psychiatric drugs. Additionally, there is a need to create more alternatives to psychiatric drugs and hospitalization, making it easier for people to get off psychiatric drugs. He also talks about how we can create a better mental health care system, one that is based on compassion, understanding, and respect for the individual.
Reference
Whitaker, R. (2010). Anatomy of an epidemic: magic bullets, psychiatric drugs, and the astonishing rise of mental illness in America. New York: Broadway Books. Web.