A Record Number of Drugs Are Being Tested to Treat Mental Illness

[Ariella]

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.c...althupdateemb1

There are a record 313 drugs under research and development to treat mental illness, the pharmaceutical manufacturers’ association says in a new report.

The drugs, either in clinical trials or seeking approval by the Food and Drug Administration, are being tested for conditions from Alzheimer’s to schizophrenia.

The largest number, 90, would treat forms of dementia, and 71 would treat depression. Other conditions include addiction, anxiety, eating and sleep disorders.

The report by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America lists the company, stage of experiment and contact information for each drug.

The National Institute of Mental Health said in a 2010 report: “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.”

Mental health drugs have huge profit potential because the symptoms and diagnoses can be nebulous and subjective, and standards keep changing. But it can take years, hundreds of millions of dollars and scores of false starts to develop a new drug.

Robert Whitaker, a former reporter for The Boston Globe, challenges industry trends in his new book, “Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.”

But for many, the drugs are truly hope-restoring. Including, perhaps, for the pharmaceutical industry as it seeks new products to replace older drugs losing patent protection.

[Lucy]

I just read that ecstacy is being studied for PTSD! " There were no serious side effects."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6692174.shtml

[luc]

Thank you for sharing this, Darcy. Every time I read about the Big Pharma Empire what comes to my mind is the "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. And the "soma" drug. On top of the already existing ones we will have 313 somas soon.

[Rachelina]

Great to see that the article mentions Anatomy of an Epidemic, and links to Whitaker's website! And a lot of the comments are people speaking out against the overuse of pharmaceuticals. The word really is getting out there!

[luc]

Originally Posted by altostrata

"...The National Institute of Mental Health said in a 2010 report: “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.”..."

Wow, this proportion is increasing rapidly. Next stop: 50% of all adults.

Yes, and they say that "that figure translates to 57.7 million people". It's total aberration. Do you, perhaps, know what was this number in the previous years, Alto? Just wanted to check by extrapolation when we're going to hit this 50% more or less.

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by luc

Yes, and they say that "that figure translates to 57.7 million people". It's total aberration. Do you, perhaps, know what was this number in the previous years, Alto? Just wanted to check by extrapolation when we're going to hit this 50% more or less.

The percentage was applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population which is where they got the 57.7 million.

Other factors to take into consideration, and which will no doubt continue to send this number skyward: Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and the economic/unemployment crisis of the past year or two.

[Songbird]

There are a record 313 drugs under research and development to treat mental illness

This is what gets me, all the research is about 'treating' the illness (read 'supressing symptoms'), not so much interest in research to figure out the real underlying causes (not enough $ to be made in that). I think there is some research being done but it is less well-known and probably struggles for funding.

It always bugs me when I read news articles about exciting new research being done and then talks about the new drugs that could be developed. The next new drugs are always going to be better!

[Junior]

Hmmm .. so instead of treating dual-diagnosis (mental health issue together with a drug and / or alcohol issue) as we do now, we will be treating - "mental health drug induced mental illness". Great.

[luc]

Originally Posted by Junior

Hmmm .. so instead of treating dual-diagnosis (mental health issue together with a drug and / or alcohol issue) as we do now, we will be treating - "mental health drug induced mental illness". Great.

And the more prescriptions the more "drug-related illnesses"... the more "drug-related illnesses the more ... A truly scaring exponential trend.

[Junior]

Originally Posted by luc

And the more prescriptions the more "drug-related illnesses"... the more "drug-related illnesses the more ... A truly scaring exponential trend.

I fear for our youth.