Posted by John k on June 10, 2001, at 5:53:34
I agree that the current therapies for mental disorders are in many ways woefully inadequate. However, I think it's wrong to say that mental disorders aren't a research priority. Just the other day I saw the global sales statistics for antidepressants and, being a computer nerd, I noted with fascination that the $15 billion antidepressant sales approximately equal global sales of microprocessors! I think that says something about the opportunities that are out there for innovative pharmaceutical companies.
I think we have to keep in mind that the human brain is incredibly complicated, infinitely more so than for example the heart. It's simply not that easy to find good cures for problems with the brain.
Furthermore, I believe that there are many other horrible diseases out there with far worse prognoses than depression. A few examples would be MS, ALS, Cystic Fibrosis, most types of cancers, etc. There are great needs for cures in most parts of the field of medicine.
The radical increases of the budget of the U.S. NIH in recent years is a very important step forward, but so much remains to do on behalf of other rich countries. The public must start to demand much more funding for medical (and other) research. The issue should, of course, primarily be based on humanitarian grounds, but also on the fact that disabilities of all kinds are incredibly expensive for society. In comparison to these costs, the outlays for research--even in the proactive U.S.--are ridiculously low. With so much progress recently made on many interdependent fronts of science and technology, I think the human race today has a unique ability to quickly achieve previously unthinkable improvements in health and happiness.
A few rambling thoughts from John K
poster:John k
thread:6384
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010526/msgs/6384.html