Do drug companies invent mental illnesses to sell their drugs?

Question

For example - In 1999, shyness became a mental illness called social phobia! SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) won FDA approval to market the SSRI antidepressant Paxil as a specific treatment for social phobia. They hired a PR firm that marketed the disease rather than the drug to win the attention of major media outlets.

What do you think? Are you someone who has been helped by Paxil? If not, would you ever consider taking a drug to combat shyness? Or do you believe, as I do, that this is yet another example of drug companies inventing a mental illness to make money?

I'm not "angry," I'm not shy, and I have never been treated for a mental illness. I'm trying to make a point that before 1999, being shy was being shy. Then a drug company made being shy into a mental illness! Why can't people be allowed to have a personality trait without it being treated as an illness?

Answer 1

First and foremost paxil wasnt just made for social shyness! It goes deeper WAY deeper then that! Social shyness is not a disorder as you call it! I have been labeled in the system sense i was 5! There is no miracle pill to cure social shyness! BUT there is things to help people who are affraid to go out of there house! Scared of social situations! Scared someone is out to get them etc....
I take paxil among 3 other drugs! I take paxil for ANTIDEPPRESANT! And yes it does work! I dont know who told you this drug was to help with shyness BUT THAT ISNT CORRECT! It is to help people with A COMPLEX ABOUT leaving, driving, social life! DO YOUR RESEARCH before you stick your foot in your mouth!

Answer 2

I wouldn't say they invent mental illnesses, but the marketing practices of various pharmaceutical companies attempt to expand definitions of many illnesses both physical and mental. When it comes to mental illness this is largely due do to the subjective nature of diagnosis. When I was first diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder, the DSM mandated that at least one inpatient hospitalization was necessary for the diagnosis. Over the years that qualification has gone away.

About 3-4 years ago, Pfizer put out an ad for Zoloft which stated that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance. They knew this was an outright lie and were pressured into pulling the ad.

Social anxiety disorder is far beyond shyness. A shy person may go to a party and be introverted while a sufferer of the disorder will go to the same party and be a complete wreck.

It would be nearly impossible for an industry to invent a mental illness, but it's considerably easier to manipulate diagnosis guidelines. This remains a serious problem in this country and it will continue to be as long as the industry is allowed to promote it's products on television with little oversight.

Answer 3

Shyness has never been the same thing as social phobia (social anxiety disorder). Neither shyness not social phobia/SAD has ever been and is not now a mental illness. Social phobia is one of several anxiety disorders that have a psychologic basis. No, pharmaceutical companies don't invent disorders to sell medications. That you use words like "drug company" and "drugs" instead of pharmaceutical and medication is most revealing. Of course it was was social phobia that was emphasized in the marketing campaign! Disease and disorders are always focused on. It's the people with the disease/disorder who are the target market. This is nothing new, this is a fundamental of advertising.

Paxil is not for shyness. It's for a recognized psychologic disorder that is disabling and disrupts lives. Paxil is not the only medication used for anxiety but it may the only one you're aware of.

What happened to you that made you so angry?

Answer 4

no i worked in a psychiatric hospital for 30 years mental illness is real . paxil is not for shyness. it has worked for a lot of people, along with a lot of other medications. i heard horror stories, about how patients were, in the 1950s , before the better drugs came out. social phobia is not shyness, but a condition that when severe enough can cause a persons life to be so miserable they have a great deal of difficulty functioning. spend a day or so in a psychiatric facility as a helper or volunteer, and then you would have an informed opinion.

Answer 5

Mental illnesses are actual. There are special varieties, nonetheless. Character issues, for examples, don't have anything to do with the biology of the mind. Medicinal drugs for them are pointless. Depression is a average human emotion. Every person experiences it. It becomes a situation when it sticks around too long. For my part, most situational depression can be handled with self-support, neighbors, and cure as a substitute of tablets. It can be a temporary main issue that resolves eventually. However, power melancholy is a bodily associated with smaller hypocampal volume and some loss of gray subject. So, there's a physical experiment displaying a main issue, you simply must be dead to have it. On this case, antidepressants furnish for natural functioning. That is to not say activity, just right nutritian, and so on are not principal. They are. They on my own simply will not remedy the crisis. I've bipolar disease, lived many years undiagnosed and unmedicated. I instinctively did all of the healthy things to stay realistic. It caught up to me anyway. The ailment is now worse than it could were if I had sought treatment prior. In this case, unluckily for me, bipolar is a progressive ailment when left untreated. Probably the most medicine slows if no longer stops that development. Not one of the psychotropics medication the illness and you're going to no longer in finding one psychiatrist who says the meds will preclude temper swings in the future. They is not going to. They only with a bit of luck make them much less extreme and less common even as growing functioning in between. Oh, and the bodily experiment... Lack of gray and white mind subject, but again, you need to be dead earlier than which you could have the scan that shows, sure, your brain is diseased. So.......... Sure, intellectual illnesses are actual. There is an large body of study displaying impaired functioning and also mind deterioration. ("Imbalance" is a buzz word that means nothing, IMO.) yes, a character can acquire lots of comfort from many mental stressors by non-drug means, and may additionally fortify efficacy of med remedy when meds sincerely are imperative.

Answer 6

Mental ailments are truly. There are special forms, nonetheless. Personality problems, for examples, don't have anything to do with the biology of the mind. Drugs for them are needless. Depression is a typical human emotion. Everyone stories it. It turns into a challenge whilst it sticks round too lengthy. In my view, so much situational despair can also be dealt with with self-aid, peers, and treatment as an alternative of tablets. It's a transitority challenge that resolves ultimately. On the opposite hand, persistent despair is a bodily situation related to smaller hypocampal quantity and a few lack of gray topic. So, there's a bodily scan displaying a challenge, you simply need to be lifeless to have it. In this example, antidepressants furnish for typical functioning. That's to not say endeavor, well nutritian, and so on don't seem to be essential. They are. They on my own simply would possibly not clear up the challenge. I have bipolar sickness, lived a long time undiagnosed and unmedicated. I instinctively did the entire healthful matters to stick practical. It stuck as much as me besides. The disorder is now worse than it could had been if I had sought cure previous. In this example, sadly for me, bipolar is a innovative ailment whilst left untreated. Some of the treatment slows if no longer stops that development. None of the psychotropics healing the ailment and you're going to no longer uncover one psychiatrist who says the meds will avoid temper swings someday. They would possibly not. They simply confidently lead them to much less extreme and no more widespread even as growing functioning in among. Oh, and the bodily scan... lack of gray and white mind topic, however once more, you need to be lifeless earlier than you'll be able to have the scan that indicates, sure, your mind is diseased. So.......... sure, intellectual ailments are truly. There is an large frame of study displaying impaired functioning and in addition mind deterioration. ("Imbalance" is a buzz phrase that suggests not anything, IMO.) Yes, a man or woman can acquire plenty of alleviation from many intellectual stressors through non-drug method, and too can upgrade efficacy of med cure whilst meds truthfully are imperative.

Answer 7

All phobias are psychological. Most of them does not need medicine. It require only counseling by best Psychiatrist. Shyness etc,, shows your inability to control your mind. Do not be shy. Attend some "self development courses" if conducted near your place. There are lot of books, available at stores written by Masters in this subject. Read it.

Answer 8

its funny because i went to the doctor and told her i was having trouble wanting to be around people and she gave me zoloft. all i had to do was go in there, tell her i didnt like being around people, and wala! i had some zoloft. its crazy how easy it is to get medicine.

after all that, i couldnt even get the pills anyway because it was a $100 per bottle and my insurance didnt cover it.

i didnt even need the medicine, i feel great the way i am. i just accepted the fact that i didnt like being around people. im just insecure, but its not because i have some kind of disorder. im just not happy with the way i look because im overweight. ive decided to diet instead of take medication. thats really all i needed.

Answer 9

It's definitely something we should consider. In my opinion pills are prescribed too easy to a lot of people. Drugs should be seen as a last resort. A lot of situations could be resolved through counseling, but if you want to sell your drugs is better to convince that everybody has a mental ilness and get them addicted to your pills instead of working with them to help them change their way of thinking.

Answer 10

Yes I've been on everything known to man for "Depression & Anxiety", but I ended-up having to play doctor of my own mental well being after many trips to the emergency room, and having lots of paramedics in my house from these different types of medications........I've even missed two days of work, behind paxil, so I'll never forget that one, because I loved my job at the mall, in Laughlin Nevada!! I also believe its all a "Pharmacitical Conspiracy" along with politics!! And I feel as a Patient who's been hit by a car, that all of the doctor's who prescribe these medicine's, get a cut, and vica versa, for their prescription's they hand out to the patient's, or atleast they used too, anyway!! Nowaday's there making people go too "pain Management" and are trying to "Ween" those people who are in horrible pain off of their medications, and I think its because of people who never had any physical health problem's in the first place that are ruining it for those of us who do!! That their doing this!! But "Yes" I agree with you on the whole conspiracy theory!! Completely!!! And before they ween me, I am weening myself as much as possible, before they completely take away my medicine, you know......And I have done this before, too, and my poor body is "Arthrtis ridden" from the accident, and when I weened myself before, I felt like a 90 year old woman, I had so many aches and pains that not even over the counter medicine's helped me!! That's how much pain I was in, on a daily basis!! It was just terrible, and now I am reminded daily that soon I will be going through the same thing except now, they tell us we cant get our medicine without these shots in our backs, and guess what? I Had a "Neurosurgeon tell me, not to ever allow any doctor's ever to touch my back with any needles or anything, and their forcing me to go through this in order to get my pain medicine, just doesn't "Thrill me one bit!!!" And I've been searching for months now to find a new doctor, because of this nightmare stuff I am going through, but our town is growing so much that i cant find one , their filled up so much their not seeing new patient's and I knwo these shot's are just to get more money, from my insurance...... So, "YES" its all a bunch of bologna!!! Smile!!!