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Analysis Too Much Medicine

Medicalising unhappiness: new classification of depression risks more patients being put on drug treatment from which they will not benefit

BMJ 2013; 347 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7140 (Published 09 December 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f7140

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Re: Medicalising unhappiness: new classification of depression risks more patients being put on drug treatment from which they will not benefit

I did appreciate this article. A key line for me, & an echo from my teens of my late Ghandian Indian father was: "there is a trend in Western society to expect the right to happiness & a need to restrict the range of negative emotions that are considered 'acceptable & normal'."
I have more sympathy with Stuart Jessup's commentary, as he is a patient. However for "GPs to bear in mind placebo & psychological effects when making prescription decisions"..is not the game medicine should be playing. What is needed is what is recognised to be effective, for: GPs to spend more time with (patients)...Inappropriate prescribing is a wasteful distraction.

Competing interests: No competing interests

29 December 2013
Ros A. Dharampal
Emergency Medicine trainee
GSTT
24 Connaught Gdns, London N10 3LB