Assessing overmedication: biology, philosophy and common sense.
Overmedication is nowadays a serious problem in health care due to influences from the pharmaceutical industry and agencies responsible for regulation. The situation has indeed become appalling in psychiatry, where both theories and treatments have deteriorated under the impact of the industry. The overmedication problem is associated with biased biology in medicine. Adequate biological approaches would indicate that drug therapies must yield to diet therapies, particularly treatments involving omega-3 fatty acids, in many cases. To the extent that philosophy of science adapts to mainstream medicine in analyses of the current situation, it may reinforce the existing bias. To redress imbalances in health care, we ultimately have to rely on common sense.
van der Steen
Wim J
WJ
Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit. De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. wim.van.der.steen@falw.vu.nl
D000863:Antacids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000379:methods; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical
D000863:Antacids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations