Skip to content

Bi-Weekly Discussion - Is There A "Depression Epidemic" in America?

Photo of Brian B.
Hosted By
Brian B. and Joe
Bi-Weekly Discussion - Is There A "Depression Epidemic" in America?

Details

We're currently hosting our discussions at Café Walnut, near the corner of 7th & Walnut in Olde City, just across the street from Washington Square Park. The cafe's entrance is below street level down some stairs, which can be confusing if it's your first time. Our group meets in the large room upstairs.

Since we're using the cafe's space, they ask that each person attending the meetup at least purchase a drink or snack. Please don't bring any food or drinks from outside.

The cafe is fairly easy to get to if you're using public transit. With SEPTA, take the Market-Frankford Line & get off at the 5th Street Station (corner of 5th & Market), and walk 2 blocks south on 5th and then turn right on Walnut Street and walk 2 blocks west. With PATCO, just get off at the 9th-10th & Locust stop and walk 3 blocks east & 1 block north. For those who are driving, parking in the neighborhood can be tough to find. If you can't find a spot on the street, I'd suggest parking in the Washington Square parking deck at 249 S 6th Street which is just a half block away.

----------------------------------------------
IS THERE A "DEPRESSION EPIDEMIC" IN AMERICA?

UNTANGLING THE POLITICIZED CLAIMS ABOUT DEPRESSION & ITS CAUSES

INTRODUCTION:

Depression is the single most common mental disorder in the United States. The American Psychological Association reports that it directly impacts approximately 14.8 million (6.7%) American adults every year, and there’s evidence that depression is rising among teenagers as well. This isn’t a problem that is exclusive to the U.S. Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that by 2030 mental disorders will contribute to 13% of the global burden of disease, and depression will be the largest contributor to this number. When one considers the debilitating effect of depression on productivity & its contribution to other health problems, it’s not surprising it’s now considered a major public health issue in most developed countries.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) offers a common language and standard criteria to identify and categorize mental disorders. Depression is defined as a mental state characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest & enjoyment in everyday activities, neurovegetative disturbance, and reduced energy, causing varying levels of social & occupational dysfunction. Here’s a link that explains the DSM criteria: https://www.psycom.net/depression-definition-dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria/

The "medical model" of mental disorders treats depression as primarily a neurophysiological issue related to genetics & brain chemistry. This model has been adopted by many psychiatrists and primary care doctors. The improved safety and effectiveness of SSRIs (such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft) over the older anti-depressant drugs has enabled primary care physicians to prescribe antidepressants, which previously only psychiatrists were allowed to do. This has resulted in a surge in SSRIs over the last 20 years, with about 1 in 8 Americans using them now.

However, in recent years, some psychiatrists have raised questions over whether the medical model is sufficient for diagnosing & treating depression. Many of them find it hard to believe that there could be a purely biological basis for the apparent upsurge in depressive illness since the 1980s. This has given rise to the development of the more complex "biopsychosocial model" that considers how a variety of factors influence our mental state. Efforts to treat depression are now beginning to involve counseling & lifestyle changes, as well as medication.

Public awareness of the limitations of the "medical model" has led some disability activists to propose an entirely "social model" of mental disorders. Some argue that "depression" is merely a social construct, a pathologization of normal sadness & less cheerful personalities. Similarly, others argue that "social anxiety" and "obesity" are stigmatizations of introversion & fatness, and that's why we see them connected to "depression".

There's also the "public health approach" which doesn't deny depression's biological basis but focuses on its social etiology. Unfortunately, this often gets politicized in the media as pundits try to link the "depression epidemic" to whatever social issues their ideology has traditionally been concerned with. Thus, conservative pundits often attribute the depression epidemic to the declines in marriage & religious observance, while liberal pundits often attribute the depression epidemic to "dog-eat-dog" capitalism & discrimination.

In this discussion, we'll look at various factors that could be behind the large increase in diagnoses of depression & the prescription of anti-depressants, both worldwide & in the United States in particular. We'll also look at how the debates over depression are politicized & obscured by misleading claims, and we'll do our best to sort the truth from the spin.

RELEVANT MATERIAL FROM RELATED MEETUPS:

In January of 2018, we had a meetup entitled "The Economics of Happiness" where we looked at the UN World Happiness Report's attempt to empirically quantify & compare the aggregate happiness of countries. We discussed the Nordic values of "hygge" (coziness) & "lagom" (enough) as possible secrets to happiness, the Easterlin paradox (i.e. why industrialization & higher incomes doesn't increase aggregate happiness), the paradox of declining female happiness (i.e. white American women report a decline in happiness over the last 40 years despite income gains), and the suicide paradox (i.e. why happier societies tend to have higher suicide rates).
https://www.meetup.com/Philadelphia-Political-Agnostics/events/gqxkvnyxcbcc/

The Skeptics meetup had a related discussion entitled "The Science of Happiness" where we discussed the emerging field of positive psychology that studies human happiness & well-being & Martin Seligman's PERMA model. We discussed hedonic set points & the hedonic treadmill, the link between money & happiness, the "paradox of choice" & why settling is often better than holding out, how friends can make us happier but constantly comparing ourselves to them can make us sad, and how marriage & child-rearing have paradoxical relationships with happiness.
https://www.meetup.com/Philly-Skeptics/events/246018303/

Some pundits have alleged that rising rates of depression among the young may be due to shifts in parenting methods, such as highly demanding & authoritarian "tiger parenting" or the softer but overly involved type of "helicopter parenting". We looked at parenting in a meetup back in June of 2018 and found that the research suggests that parenting effects are relatively small and don't account for nearly as much of the variation in a child's life outcomes as genetics & peer effects. (That said, extreme cases of abuse or neglect do have significant negative effects on children's mental health later in life.)
https://www.meetup.com/Philadelphia-Political-Agnostics/events/251066458/

Some experts have alleged that increasing depression, especially among teens, may be due to excessive internet usage & negative behavior on social media. The Skeptics have a meetup immediately prior to this one, running from 1-3pm, that will explore theories that social media is increasing status anxiety, political polarization, loneliness & bullying. To check out the discussion outline & RSVP, go here:
https://www.meetup.com/Philly-Skeptics/events/ffkqkqyzfbfb/

In our next discussion on Sunday, Mar. 16th, we'll explore the "diseases of despair" (i.e. alcoholism, drug addiction & suicide) and their effects on America's working class. To RSVP for that meetup, go here:
https://www.meetup.com/Philadelphia-Political-Agnostics/events/wpjnnqyzfbwb/

-----------------------------------------------

DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR OUR DISCUSSION:

The videos & articles you see linked below are intended to give you a basic overview of some of the factors that may be causing an increase in depression in America & its connections with loneliness, economic stress & health problems. As usual, I certainly don't expect you to read all the articles & watch all the videos prior to attending our discussion.

The easiest way to prepare for our discussion is to just watch the numbered videos linked under each section - the videos come to about about 42 minutes total. The articles marked with asterisks are just there to supply additional details. You can browse and look at whichever ones you want, but don't worry - we'll cover the stuff you missed in our discussion.

In terms of the discussion format, my general idea is that we'll address the topics in the order presented here. I figure we'll spend about 30 minutes on each section.

----------------------------------------------

I. WORLD HAPPINESS RANKINGS & THE ALLEGED "DEPRESSION EPIDEMIC" IN AMERICA:

  • IS THE UN'S WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT'S RECENT IDENTIFICATION OF A "SOCIAL CRISIS" IN THE U.S. ACCURATE OR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED? IF IT'S ACCURATE, COULD THE FACTORS THE REPORT IDENTIFIES BE MAKING AMERICANS UNHAPPY?

  • HOW SERIOUSLY SHOULD WE TAKE THE W.H.O.'S CLAIM THAT DEPRESSION IS BECOMING A "GLOBAL EPIDEMIC"? WHY DO THEY THINK DEPRESSION IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN THE U.S.?

  • DOES THE CURRENT DSM DEFINITION OF DEPRESSION ALLOW PSYCHIATRISTS TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM NORMAL UNHAPPINESS? IS CLINICAL DEPRESSION RISING IN AMERICA, OR IS IT MOSTLY JUST SELF-REPORTED UNHAPPINESS THAT'S RELATED TO IDENTIFIABLE LIFE PROBLEMS?

  • HOW DO COUNTRIES' RATES OF DEPRESSION COMPARE WITH LEVELS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? DOES IT APPEAR THAT DEPRESSION IS A "DISEASE OF AFFLUENCE" WE DEVELOP WHEN WE DON'T HAVE MORE IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS, OR COULD IT BE RELATED TO OTHER FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIALIZATION & URBANIZATION?

  • WHY DOES THE U.S. HAVE THE WORLD'S HIGHEST RATE OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT USAGE? WHY IS ICELAND RIGHT BEHIND THE U.S.? SHOULD A COUNTRY'S RATE OF DEPRESSION DIAGNOSIS & ANTI-DEPRESSANT PRESCRIPTIONS BE TAKEN AS A SIGN OF SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION, OVER-MEDICATION, OR MEDICAL PROGRESS?

1a) RT w/ Lisa Palmer, "United States among the world’s most depressed countries [according to the WHO]" (video - 6:15 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WDqxqKVibE

1b) Jerome Wakefield, "Are We Experiencing A National Epidemic of Depression?" (video - 3:04 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsTpsMOJh0I

.
II. THE DECLINE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL & THE "LONELINESS EPIDEMIC" IN AMERICA:

  • CAN "SOCIAL CAPITAL" BE QUANTIFIED & MEASURED? IF SO, IS ROBERT PUTNAM'S THEORY ABOUT DECLINING SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE U.S. SINCE THE 1960s CORRECT?

  • WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "LONELINESS" & "SOCIAL ISOLATION"? WHY DO SOME PEOPLE FEEL LONELY DESPITE THEIR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS?

  • IS LONELINESS CONNECTED TO THE DECLINE IN MARRIAGE?

  • IS LONELINESS CONNECTED TO INCREASING TRANSIENCE WHICH CUTS TIES TO FRIENDS & FAMILY?

  • ARE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LESS PRONE TO DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF MORE SOCIAL CONNECTION THROUGH CHURCH ATTENDANCE? IF SO, CAN SECULAR GROUPS PROVIDE THIS?

  • HAS THE INTERNET TURNED US INTO HOMEBODIES? HAVE INCREASED "SCREEN TIME" & LESS "FACE TIME" LED TO MORE LONELINESS & DEPRESSION?

  • IS LONELINESS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR POORER HEALTH? IS IT EXAGGERATING TO SAY THAT LONELINESS IS COMPARABLE TO "SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY"?

2a) Sam Freeman, "An Evaluation of Putnam's Theory of Decreasing Social Capital in the United States" (video - 2:02 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQrI98aW5zM

2b) CBS w/ Gail Saltz, "What's behind America's loneliness epidemic?" (video - 5:23 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLn0GqFnurs

.
III. WORK STRESS, INCOME INEQUALITY & THEIR CONNECTION TO DEPRESSION & LONELINESS:

  • ARE AMERICANS MORE PRONE TO DEPRESSION BECAUSE THEY WORK LONGER HOURS & TAKE LESS VACATION?

  • SHOULD WE STRIVE FOR "WORK-LIFE BALANCE" TO AVOID BURNOUT & ACHIEVE HAPPINESS, OR IS THE CONCEPT FLAWED?

  • DO HIERARCHY & DIVISION OF LABOR ALIENATE US FROM OUR WORK?

  • DOES "WORKAHOLISM" CUT INTO SOCIALIZING & INCREASE LONELINESS? DOES IT HURT MARRIAGES?

  • DOES INCOME/WEALTH INEQUALITY MAKE SOCIETIES UNHAPPY? OR IS UNHAPPINESS MORE ASSOCIATED WITH ABSOLUTE CONDITIONS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT & POVERTY?

  • CAN THE "MISERY INDEX" HELP US MEASURE THE EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMY ON A POPULATION'S MOOD?

3a) Seeker, "Why Working Too Much Is TERRIBLE For You" (video - 4:59 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cx6D8IlZkg

3b) Johann Hari, "The one factor causing depression and anxiety in the workplace" (video - 4:38 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0tgMubFqd8

3c) PBS, "Happiness & Inequality" (video - 8:55 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXlUWa4476o

.
IV. SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE, POOR DIET, OBESITY & THE CONNECTIONS WITH DEPRESSION & LONELINESS:

  • IS A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE CONNECTED WITH DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF ITS HEALTH EFFECTS, ITS SOCIAL EFFECTS, OR BOTH?

  • IS IT TRUE THAT SPENDING TOO LONG SITTING EACH DAY IS HARMFUL EVEN IF YOU EXERCISE?

  • HAS THE INTERNET MADE US MORE SEDENTARY?

  • WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF DIET ON MOOD? CAN "ANTI-INFLAMMATORY" DIETS LOW IN REFINED CARBS & OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS HELP TREAT DEPRESSION?

  • IS OBESITY CONNECTED WITH DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF ITS HEALTH EFFECTS, ITS SOCIAL EFFECTS, OR BOTH?

  • DO STRESS & DEPRESSION PLAY A CAUSATIVE ROLE IN OBESITY? IF SO, HOW CAN WE BREAK THIS VICIOUS CYCLE?

4a) ASAP Science, "What If You Stopped Going Outside?" (video - 3:05 min.)
https://youtu.be/hmqguIFMC-Y

4b) CBS w/ Edward Bullmore, "How inflammation in the body could be causing depression" (video - 4:25 min.)
https://youtu.be/rPbSLdVn5ns

X

Events in Philadelphia, PA
Photo of Philadelphia Political Agnostics group
Philadelphia Political Agnostics
See more events
Philadelphia Political Agnostics
Photo of Philadelphia Political Agnostics group
Cafe Walnut
703 Walnut Street · Philadelphia, PA
Photo of Philadelphia Political Agnostics group
Philadelphia Political Agnostics
public group