The newest mania: Seeing disease mongering everywhere
2006

The Newest Mania: Seeing Disease Mongering Everywhere

Commentary

Author Information

Author(s): S. Nassir Ghaemi

Primary Institution: Emory University

Conclusion

The diagnosis of bipolar disorder has a long history and is more often underdiagnosed than overdiagnosed, despite concerns about disease mongering.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bipolar disorder has been described since ancient times and is supported by much empirical evidence.
  • The author respects critiques about the overuse of antidepressants but believes bipolar disorder is often underdiagnosed.

Takeaway

Some people think too many kids are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but actually, it's often missed. The author believes that the diagnosis is valid and has been around for a long time.

Potential Biases

The author has received funding from pharmaceutical companies, which may influence their perspective.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pmed.0030319

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