The Disease Model of Depression Has Not Lifted Depression Stigma

pachyderm · Sep 20, 2010 at 06:55 AM

"A new large scale research study published in American Journal of Psychiatry has found that despite a greater embrace by the public of neurobiological explanations for depression (and other mental illnesses) there has been no decrease in prejudice and discrmiination [sic] towards people who suffer from them."

...

"in all of the surveys and across all vignette conditions, holding a neurobiological conception of mental illness either was unrelated to stigma or tended to increase the odds of a stigmatizing reaction"

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ression-stigma

pachyderm · Sep 20, 2010 at 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Popskid

I know that real depression and mental illness exist, but I think that society is making it so common that it is difficult to view mental illness as the truly disruptive and fatal thing that it is. They treat depression (and anxiety disorders) more like some emotional form of the common cold. Like depression is something that is unpleasant, but that everyone gets from time to time. Maybe that is why stigma is increasing.

Interesting. But it also seems possible to me that some mental health "advocates" and drug companies have increased problems by how they have presented severe mental illness as solely "biologically based" (and thus "those people" are different from "us").

Perna · Sep 20, 2010 at 08:10 AM

I'm tired of all the medication ads on television, like depression, allergies, COPD, bladder control, and low testosterone are all the same "weight".

Popskid · Sep 20, 2010 at 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Interesting. But it also seems possible to me that some mental health "advocates" and drug companies have increased problems by how they have presented severe mental illness as solely "biologically based" (and thus "those people" are different from "us").

I guess I really do think it is the opposite. By the way I deleted my post because I thought it was a bit harsh and argumentative. I think that drug companies and doctors portray the symptoms of depression as being very close to the normal human emotions of sadness and dissatisfaction with one's life. I think that people are lead to believe that unhappiness is a sickness instead of a common but transient part of life. Thus it increases the idea that people should be able to "pull themselves up by the bootstraps." People think that they understand depression and have felt that way, and if they could get through it you should be able to get over it as well. They really don't see that depression is something that is severe and impossible to get over without some kind of help.

pachyderm · 09:55 AM

Possibly both could be true? That is, in some cases people mix small discomforts with big disorders, and think that big ones should be able to be solved in the same ways as small ones. Then in other cases characterizing severe disorders as incomprehensible by ordinary human intelligences make them seem "not like us"? I do not agree that depression is necessarily "impossible to get over without some kind of help" but it sure helps. Personally, I have found that making it seem that there is no connection between what ordinary people experience and what the more extremes experience to be inaccurate, and harmful.

Actually, maybe I do agree that it is impossible to get over severe emotional disturbances without some kind of help. It's just that help can come in many forms, and if you are alive it is most likely you have some contact with other people, and that can be of help. Personally, I have found things I have read by other people to be often of more help than advice and therapizing and medications from the ones supposed to be professionals in the field. But that is still help from others.

Perna · Sep 20, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Popskid

I think that drug companies and doctors portray the symptoms of depression as being very close to the normal human emotions of sadness and dissatisfaction with one's life.

I assume, since it's about the public, that you are talking about television ads? I think they are very much meant to get people to use whatever drug is being advertised! I believe, as I think Pachyderm hinted, that the ads are trying to increase the "base" of how many people use the drug so they are trying to blur the lines, as you say, so people who are merely "sad" might think they are depressed. Then they go to their doctor, who has no time/interest in delving further and prescribes whatever antidepressant they've asked for/seen advertised on TV.

I think, since cigarettes have been banned from TV, that psychiatric drugs should be banned from being advertised too, since they are controlled substances. Like I meant to imply, the relaxed, happy, smiling people in ads should be confined to the bladder control and low testosterone people.

madisgram · Sep 20, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perna

Like I meant to imply, the relaxed, happy, smiling people in ads should be confined to the bladder control and low testosterone people.

perna, you have a wonderful sense of humor.

oh and add to your list constipated people who have found relief!

Popskid · Sep 20, 2010 at 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perna

I assume, since it's about the public, that you are talking about television ads?

Some psychiatrists and therapists too- as they can't get insurance to pay for therapy without a diagnosis. I don't think people have to be depressed or have any serious emotional problems to benefit from therapy if they want to. I think people often get a diagnosis just so that insurance will pay for them to get help and advice in dealing with normal life issues such as grieving, relationships, children, and more. If I believed in censorship, I would fully support banning antidepressant ads though. All scientific literature supports the idea that therapy or counseling is MORE effective than medication for mild forms of depression and anxiety, yet people think they aren't being treated if they don't get drugs. So much for the war on drugs...

shezbut · Sep 20, 2010 at 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pachyderm

"A new large scale research study published in American Journal of Psychiatry has found that despite a greater embrace by the public of neurobiological explanations for depression (and other mental illnesses) there has been no decrease in prejudice and discrmiination [sic] towards people who suffer from them."

...

"in all of the surveys and across all vignette conditions, holding a neurobiological conception of mental illness either was unrelated to stigma or tended to increase the odds of a stigmatizing reaction"

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ression-stigma

I'd say that it takes time and a lot of experience for the general public to change their mind/s about prejudice. That's a general rule in society.

Perna did make a good point about all of the advertisements on tv and in magazines. I seriously believe that it turns a lot of people off. It certainly turns me off ~ and I suffer from half of the symptoms & side effects that these medications may inversely cause. Annoying advertisements really don't help me any. I think that our society has reached it's limit in sympathy and understanding of medication treatments.

ECHOES · Sep 20, 2010 at 07:14 PM

Shez, those ads are really becoming so ridiculously overdone, exaggerated. The script reads right off of a "You might be depressed" flyer. I don't think the pharms will be happy until everyone is taking a handful something to fatten the pharm's wallets.

When you read about some drug's lifeline, it is interesting. They can't sell enough of a drug that was developed for one set of symptoms, so they make up a diagnosis to sell it for. (This is how Restless Leg Sydrome was born. It was also a dud; where did all the commercials for that go...?)

Designer drugs. Funny how there is a drug to counteract the side effect of another drug. Whatta racket.

I know many are helped, I'm not at all negating that. But I think the pharmaceutical industry is .. something else.

Princess_Obsidian · Sep 23, 2010 at 03:18 AM

Greetings.

Intriguing.

Have a good one.

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The Disease Model of Depression Has Not Lifted Depression Stigma

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Perna Pandita-in-training Member Since Sep 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 27,289 (SuperPoster!) 18 550 hugs given	Sep 20, 2010 at 08:10 AM #3 I'm tired of all the medication ads on television, like depression, allergies, COPD, bladder control, and low testosterone are all the same "weight". __________________ "Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius
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Princess_Obsidian Grand Member Member Since Aug 2009 Posts: 537 15	Sep 23, 2010 at 03:18 AM #11 Greetings. Intriguing. Have a good one.
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