What are the sociological implications of the rise of ‘psychopharmacology’

Over the last half century there has been an ever increasing proliferation of drugs being produced for the treatment of mental illness. This rise in ‘psychopharmacology’ has had far reaching sociological implications. This essay assesses these implications, firstly with a brief overview of the treatment of schizophrenia with medications, which was the first condition to be treated with a whole host of psychoactive drugs; before going on to assess the implications of two of the most controversial, and most used, drugs in Western societies: Ritalin, and Prozac.

“The box most applicable to my perceptions of selfhood in Kramer's (1994) analysis, is that of the 'socially isolative schizoid', which to me underlies a belittling of 'abnormal' dispositions.”

“Extremes of any combination come to be seen as 'psychiatric deviance'. In the argument presented here, where disorder begins is entirely down to social convention, and where one decides to draw the line across the spectrum.”

“I cannot foresee Prozac gaining much more popularity, perhaps because of the stubbornness and perseverance of people like myself, who despite living through a 'culture of depression', refuse to be swept along by the rise of psychopharmacology. At least that is, until the next 'miracle drug' arrives, to enable us to live a more 'normal' and 'productive' life.”