After analyzing the causes of increase of diagnosis and medication of mental disorders, it’s worth exploring the many negative effects. In many cases medication can be unnecessary or lead to abuse. First of all, giving unnecessary medicine has shown to often and be problematic. For example, the placebo effect of social anxiety medications is very high (Frances 152). This means that even if the drug isn’t very effective, the patient thinks it works, so he or she is more likely to stay on it which can lead to complications. Mild depression too is often treated with powerful and expensive medications when studies show that rarely such drugs are needed (Frances 156). In fact, many studies from the last fifty years explain how drugs can worsen
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First, a number of medications that are commonly overprescribed can be very harmful. To treat conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia more minor drugs such as mood stabilizers are often effective. However, many doctors opt to use antipsychotics before even testing mood stabilizers (Iordache and Low). Over prescribing antipsychotics can be especially harmful. They can cause obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia (increased fat in the blood stream), and metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease and a increased risk of stroke (Frances 146). In fact, the combination of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers to treat childhood bipolar disorder leads to an increase of an average of twelve pounds of weight gain in twelve weeks (Frances 146). The overprescription of stimulants is also dangerous. They are dangerous for those who already have psychiatric and medical problems, and can cause some conditions to worsen (Frances 185). Unfavorable responses to drugs can cause even more drugs to prescribed to the patient (Levine). This cycle can cause a patient to be on many powerful medications at the same time. Indeed, studies suggest that taking less medications while participating in therapy is far more beneficial to taking more drugs. Many children and teens have manic responses to antidepressants (Levine). More simply explained, drugs
First, a number of medications that are commonly overprescribed can be very harmful. To treat conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia more minor drugs such as mood stabilizers are often effective. However, many doctors opt to use antipsychotics before even testing mood stabilizers (Iordache and Low). Over prescribing antipsychotics can be especially harmful. They can cause obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia (increased fat in the blood stream), and metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease and a increased risk of stroke (Frances 146). In fact, the combination of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers to treat childhood bipolar disorder leads to an increase of an average of twelve pounds of weight gain in twelve weeks (Frances 146). The overprescription of stimulants is also dangerous. They are dangerous for those who already have psychiatric and medical problems, and can cause some conditions to worsen (Frances 185). Unfavorable responses to drugs can cause even more drugs to prescribed to the patient (Levine). This cycle can cause a patient to be on many powerful medications at the same time. Indeed, studies suggest that taking less medications while participating in therapy is far more beneficial to taking more drugs. Many children and teens have manic responses to antidepressants (Levine). More simply explained, drugs