More analysis on the antidepressant epidemic in the U.S. The enigma:

The findings reflect the paradoxical reality of depression treatment in the U.S. While some observers complain that antidepressants are being handed out like candy, the data show that patterns of prescription generally adhere to what is known about depression prevalence in the U.S. In fact, the research suggests that depression is consistently undertreated.

First of all, depression is common: 9.1% of American adults will suffer from the illness at any given time, according to earlier CDC research. Although the current study finds that antidepressant prescriptions (11%) are more common than depression, earlier data show that about one-fifth of those prescriptions are written to treat conditions other than depression, such as anxiety disorders, pain and menopausal symptoms. That means the "excess" 2% of prescriptions aren't likely to represent overprescribing. Current rates may even reflect underprescribing: the CDC study finds that only one-third of people with symptoms are taking medication.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/2...#ixzz1c648dWg1

One definition of tipping point: the time at which a change or an effect cannot be stopped. Solve the energy crisis by drilling more, harvesting oil shale and increasing the use of "clean" coal, each of which increases carbon emissions that are a bane to climate change crisis.

Instead of reducing emissions the naysayers on climate change seek more energy despite the emissions.

America has an ongoing health care debate. Run the malingerers out of town and all will be well and good?

The U.S. has serious education issues. The irony of proponents of less government seek to solve this issue by more regulations that prevent teachers from being innovative and creative.

Yes, we are depressed. When is that pill that fixes everything going to be on the market? Where are the good therapists who will understand me perfectly and have me happy in the short term for the long term?

But, we are Americans entitled to pollute and use a disproportionate share of limited resources.

Is there any wonder why more and more are depressed?

[venusss]

This is a scary, scary article indeed and it almost makes me wanna go to the "I don't want to live in this world anymore" place. (worry not, I had these thoughts when watching Friday by Rebeca Black). There is yet no test to prove if depression is chemical (and seriously, not all depression is chemical... some of us are depressed because... oh well, we are in place place objectivelly and would be more scary if we were not down). And yet we insist on better living through chemistry. I cannot be the only one whom this reminds of Brave New World and their soma?

Yes, we are depressed. When is that pill that fixes everything going to be on the market? Where are the good therapists who will understand me perfectly and have me happy in the short term for the long term?

there is never gonna be magic pill. Unless they materialize soma and than deitities protect us... Happy in short term? Life does not work that way. And I just don't think Buddhists got it all wrong... Life is a struggle.

And I still think inner peace is better than hard to define "happy". And one has to come to inner peace themselves. One can give you map... but they cannot hold your hand and lead you there. We need to live our lives for ourselves. Maybe once we accept this... we will be less miserable.