Scientifically, the outcome with the largest effect sizes should be offered as the primary label for a medication. Specifically, if more antidepressant users experience sexual dysfunction than experience relief from depression, antidepressants should be relabeled as antiaphrodisiacs.
Antonuccio and Healy, conclude, "Of course, the drug industry does not have an incentive to change the label. However, we feel patients ought to be informed of these possible alternative labels because they may apply equally well if not better. The main point is that calling these medications antidepressants is a marketing decision that does not appear to be consistent with the scientific data."
Bruce E. Levine , a practicing clinical psychologist, writes and speaks about how society, culture, politics and psychology intersect. His latest book is Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, Energizing the Defeated, and Battling the Corporate Elite . His Web site is www.brucelevine.net
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