The Psych Central Show: Candid Chat On Mental Health & Psychology

In 1980, about 1 in 100 children in the US were taking psychiatric medications. Today, that number is 1 in 10. Even more shockingly, 1% of 3-year-olds in the US are taking psychiatric medications. Across the board, 1 in 5 Americans takes daily psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and sleeping pills — and these numbers continue to rise.  Presumably, humans haven’t changed in the past 40 years, so why has the way we are treating their symptoms changed? Join us as Dr. David Cohen looks at psychoactive drugs and how their desirable and undesirable effects have been constructed for society through language, policy, attitudes, and social interactions. Today’s two-part episode looks at how we got here, examines the possible implications for our society, and attempts to answer the question, “Is this the best medical treatment available?” Please note, this is part 1 of 2. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. For