The Economic Explanation for Americas Depression

The Economic Explanation for Americas Depression Free Online Research Papers In present day America, 25% of the entire population has been diagnosed with and is undergoing treatment for some type of depression [â€Å"One out of Four Diagnosed† www.minefully.org]. Because it is such a common occurrence, the American people have seemingly accepted depression, whether minor or major, as a social norm. What the general public has failed to recognize is that most U.S. Pharmaceutical companies promote their products for the sole financial benefit of their company versus the diagnosed individual. The relatively recent occurrence and contemporary rise in the amount of people diagnosed with depression is far too coincidental with that of Pharmaceutical stocks and their net worth, currently booming the billions. Reviewed and analyzed in this essay are the glitches in the system and tips on how not to fall into the traps of the modern day medical industry. Depression is generally single-handedly diagnosed by either a physician, who medically treats depression, or a psychiatrist, a specialist in human emotion. The saying â€Å"Never go to a Doctor whose office plants have died† [Greenberg 36] relays a strong message of the importance of professional looking practices. Anytime you walk into a doctor’s office, you are bound to be surrounded by advertisements, pamphlets, and even free samples for various prescription drugs; it is almost like shopping in a â€Å"Sam’s Club†! All of those things have a purpose for being there, and that purpose is to influence people to use medication to solve their health problems. Behind the array of display cards and informational packets lies one thing: pharmaceutical companies and their interest in the American people’s money. Members of our society are exceedingly consumed with appearance and embody a materialized sense of perfection that blinds them from seeing the mo tivations behind corporate actions. All medical examiners, from psychotherapists to pediatricians, benefit from advertising for Pharmaceutical companies, and vice versa. In California’s Official Health Care Report, the quality of statewide health care appeared to vary greatly by general popularity [â€Å"CA Quality Health Care Report† www.opa.ca.gov]. Much like adolescents select brand named clothing over generics, the most sponsored and commercialized health care facilities happened to lead the charts when it came to the number of patients, but not necessarily in their recovery rates [â€Å"CA Quality Health Care Report 2003-2005† www.opa.ca.gov]. Pharmaceutical companies unfairly benefit the â€Å"name brand† consumer over the â€Å"generic† consumer by offering larger discounts with higher premiums and by callously denying sometimes vital medications to those who simply cannot afford them. Two of our nation’s principal misers, doctors and pharmaceutical companies monopolize the market, essentially scheming our people without a hint of remorse. Not only are the individuals behind the diagnosis often corrupt, but so are the tests in which they gather their information. In the diagnosis there are no blood or urine samples taken, only personal information gathered and questioners answered. Originally used to diagnose depression, the HAM-D (Hamilton Department Rating Scale) was a biased test that produced flawed results and in turn many incorrect diagnoses’. For those reasons it was revised by medical experts; the result of those revisions was the popular and extensively accredited SCID (Structured Clinical Interview). Although it is presently the most commonly used form of diagnosis, it only increased diagnosis accuracy (patient success rates) by about 20% overall [â€Å"CA Quality Health Care Report† www.opa.gov]. Perhaps the reason the success rates haven’t notably inclined is because the tests genuinely have no guarantee of any accurate result. Asking indirect questions and taking natural emotional occu rrences to extremes, the tests seem more of a persuasion tactic than a supposed step toward recovery. Basing the test on the assumption of the individual, it asks similar questions in a repetitive fashion, focusing on casual neurovegative signs like sleep and appetite. Declared a hoax by psychotherapist and freelance writer Dr. Gary Greenburg, he commented that â€Å"Whatever my score on the SCID, it was hard to believe that (Dr.) Papakostas really thought I had Major Depression† [Greenburg 37]; involved in a study, Greenburg himself was mistakenly diagnosed with depression. On a test where the symptoms are all to casual, uncertainly is not an option; all questions require either a direct yes or no answer bubbled onto the answer sheet. Due to the lack of dedication to and interest in creating fair and legitimate tests, it could be said that government funded research has fizzled down to the sloppy and unsure collection of raw data that our doctors need to keep their sponsors happy. Shooting at a specific target with no set aim, one must question the legitimacy of a test issuing 2 of 17 points to a patient for merely denying they are ill at all. Last but not least is the issue of personal reaction to both prescription anti-depressants and their treatment plans. Anti-depressant medications are essentially chemicals that enter the body directly, altering its chemical makeup and supposedly achieving a desired balance. Ironically enough, a major argument by both Pharmaceuticals and doctors alike in the defense of prescription drugs is one that questions patient hope for and dedication to their recovery. If prescriptions were chemical solutions to chemical problems, then such factors would be irrelevant when it came to patient recovery. This concretely defends the psychological factor in depression treatment, also known as the Placebo Effect. In the same study involving Mr. Greenburg, it was found that in over half the trails used to approve the leading anti-depressant meds, the drugs failed to outperform their placebos. Even more shocking, the minimal advantage of the successful prescriptions over the placebos was an average of two points on the HAM-D scale [Greenburg 40]; this two point difference could be altered to the placebo’s benefit by a heartier meal or deeper sleep. In conclusion, the groundbreaking claim that 80% of prescription drug effects are actually placebo effects [Kirsch 40] isn’t so hard to believe after all. Furthermore, the American people have been brainwashed by the United States’ medical industry as a whole, and one must question what it will take to reverse that. In the last 40 years alone, there have been 100 new afflictions added to the lists diagnosing depression, and the number will only continue to grow; we cannot let the belief that any amount of happiness is enough work its way into our consumer economy. One day, people will come to embrace this phrase voiced by Norman Cousins: â€Å"The human body experiences a gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why patients` hopes are the physician’s secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescriptions†. When we come to recognize the economics behind depression and embrace the power of the human mind, our people will discover the innate solution to man’s most agonizing illness. 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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  (1749–1832) was a prolific German poet and writer. Within his body of work are many quotes (zitate, in German) that are now famous bits of wisdom passed down through the generations. A number of these have also influenced other popular musings and sage advice. Among Goethes best-known lines are those below. Many come from published books of the poets work while a few are from personal correspondence. Here, we will explore them in both their original German as well as the English translations. One of the Best-Known Goethe Quotes Man sieht nur das, was man weiß. English Translation:  You only see what you know. Goethe From"Die Wahlverwandtschaften" Die Wahlverwandtschaften (Elective Affinities) was Goethes third novel published in 1809. Glà ¼cklicherweise kann der Mensch nur einen gewissen Grad des Unglà ¼cks fassen; was darà ¼ber hinausgeht, vernichtet ihn oder lßt ihn gleichgà ¼ltig. English Translation: Fortunately, people can comprehend only a certain degree of misfortune; anything beyond that either destroys them or leaves them indifferent. Goethe From "Maximen und Reflexionen" Maximen und Reflexionen (Maxims and Reflections) is a collection of Goethes writings published posthumously in 1833. Der Alte verliert eines der grà ¶ÃƒÅ¸ten Menschenrechte: er wird nicht mehr von seines Gleichen beurteilt. English Translation: An old man loses one of the most important rights of man: he is no longer judged by his peers. Es ist nichts schrecklicher als eine ttige Unwissenheit. English Translation: Theres nothing worse than ignorance in action. Goethe to Eckermann, 1830 Goethe and fellow poet Johann Peter Eckermann regularly corresponded with one another. This comes from a 1830 letter to Eckermann. Napoleon gibt uns ein Beispiel, wie gefhrlich es sei, sich ins Absolute zu erheben und alles der Ausfà ¼hrung einer Idee zu opfern. English Translation: Napoleon provides us an example of how dangerous it is to be elevated to the absolute and to sacrifice everything to implement an idea. Goethe From "Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre" Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre (Wilhelm Meisters Journeyman Years) is the third in a series of books written by Goethe. It was first published in 1821, then revised and republished in 1829. Unter allem Diebesgesindel sind die Narren die schlimmsten. Sie rauben euch beides, Zeit und Stimmung. English Translation: Of all the thieving riff-raff, fools are the worst. They steal both your time and your good mood. Das Leben gehà ¶rt den Lebenden an, und wer lebt, muss auf Wechsel gefasst sein. English Translation: Life belongs to the living, and those who live must be prepared for change. Es gibt keine patriotische Kunst und keine patriotische Wissenschaft. Beide gehà ¶ren, wie alles hohe Gute, der ganzen Welt an... English Translation: There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science. Both belong, like all high good, to the whole world... Goethe From"Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre" Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre (Wilhelm Meisters Apprenticeship) is the second volume in Goethes famous series, published in 1795. Alles, was uns begegnet, lßt Spuren zurà ¼ck. Alles trgt unmerklich zu unserer Bildung bei. English Translation: Everything we encounter leaves traces behind. Everything contributes imperceptibly to our education. Die beste Bildung findet ein gescheiter Mensch auf Reisen. English Translation: The best education for a clever person is found in travel. Goethe From "Sprichwà ¶rtlich" The following are small excerpts from Goethes poem Sprichwà ¶rtlich (Proverbial). Zwischen heut und morgenliegt eine lange Frist.Lerne schnell besorgen,Da du noch munter bist. English Translation: Between today and tomorrowlies a long time.Learn quickly to take care of thingswhile youre still fit. Tu nur das Rechte in deinen Sachen;Das andre wird sich von selber machen. English Translation: Just do the right thing in your affairs;The rest will take care of itself. Goethe From "Reineke Fuchs" Reineke Fuchs is a 12-song epic written by Goethe in 1793. Besser laufen, als faulen. English Translation: Better to run than to rot. Goethe From "Hermann und Dorothea" Hermann and Dorothea is one of Goethes epic poems published in 1796. Wer nicht vorwrts geht, der kommt zurà ¼cke. English Translation: If youre not going forward, youre going backward. Goethe From "Faust I (Vorspiel auf dem Theater)" Faust I is a collection of Goethes work and when combined with Faust II, the two span 60 years of the poets artistic writings. Vorspiel auf dem Theater (Prelude on the Theater) is one poem examining the conflicts of drama and theater. Was glnzt, ist fà ¼r den Augenblick geboren,Das Echte bleibt der Nachwelt unverloren. English Translation: That which glitters is born for the moment;The genuine remains intact for future days.