Why is there such a high rate of anti depressant use in modern times in the West?

Question

I am from Asia were there is almost no anti depressant use.

Answer 1

Doctors get kickbacks from 'Big Pharma' to push as many of their drugs as they can.
Example: Many years ago, I was in a new job: stressful, high profile. I had heart palpitations and I trembled for no reason.
I went to the Dr and he prescribed an antidepressant. I didn't trust the diagnosis, it just didn't feel like anxiety. I didn't fill the scrip, and I got another Drs opinion. Turns out it was hyperthyroidism.
Had I blindly taken the antidepressant, I'd be just another drugged up person, making $$ for Big Pharma.

Answer 2

People in the west are impatient - they want to feel better NOW.
People are generally lazy - they want a solution to their problem without having to do any work for it.
Many people are uneducated about their own health - instead of learning how to deal with a situation they'd rather have some "professional" prescribe a pill.
Pharmaceutical companies have armies of sales reps rewarding, bribing, and coercing doctors into prescribing pills for everything (even if its not in the patient's best interest). So when a patient is depressed, they don't have the motivation to question a doctor or learn other alternatives. Prescription drugs are big business. And with more people being impatient, lazy, and uneducated (many by choice), its only getting bigger.

Answer 3

It has to do with the diet of the West. I don't know if you have heard of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids; they are essential fatty acids so they can only be obtained from food you eat (your body can't make them). Now, there is a particular ratio that the two fatty acids should be consumed in so the ratio of omega 6 : omega 3 for most healthy people is supposed to be 3:1. However, the typical American is in the range of 10:1 to 30:1. So most Americans do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids and do not maintain a healthy balance (ratio) of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in their diet thus they are at an increased risk for depression. Hence, there is a higher rate of anti-depressant use in the West.

Answer 4

In the U.S., drug companies dominate 'thinking' in medicine. It is much easier and more profitable for a doctor to label the patient's symptoms (a 'diagnosis') and then prescribe a drug (it only takes ten seconds to 'write a prescription') than it is to do the hard work of looking for and fixing the underlying cause of the patient's signs and symptoms.

Two consequences of this irrational approach to health care are: 1) America spends 17% of its income on health care and 2) the U.S. is 41st in life expectancy. Both statistics are clear indications that this approach to health is a failure.

Answer 5

That's right. I nation's where omega-3 is high, depression is low. Where omega-3 consumption is moderate, there is moderate incidence of depression.

Where omega-3 consumption is low, the incidence of depression is high.

Many Asian countries consume higher levels of fish per capita than do western nations.

Furthermore, both patients demand, and drug companies push, anti depressant usage.

Good luck and be well.

Kelley

Answer 6

Because pharmaceutical companies have found that people are gullible enough to take just about anything their doctor wants them to take...and MDs work right along side the pharmaceutical companies. It's sick...I am a believer in medicine...it saved my life along with my unborn baby; however can't sleep at night knowing that there are children out there who are so doped up on antidepressants and Adderall that they don't even know who they really are...it really makes me sick.

Answer 7

Westerners, I,m afraid want instant relief/answers or else dont want to face up to problems, therefore antidepressants are the solution for them.

Answer 8

people have too much wealth and time on their hands.not to worry it will be coming to your part of the world soon.

Answer 9

Because people here are bored, lazy, and stupid.