In his book, Listening to Prozac: A Psychiatrist Explores Antidepressant Drugs and the Remaking of the Self, Peter Kramer, MD, refers to one component of the “medicalization” of mental health as “cosmetic psychopharmacology.” In particular, he addresses the ability of Prozac to alter patients’ personalities. Even when a patient is no longer depressed, he could use Prozac to sustain the personality change. Dr. Kramer describes the phenomenon as patients becoming “better than well. . . . patients acquiring extra energy and becoming socially attractive, through the continued use of Prozac when they may no longer have needed it to treat depression.”

Medicalization speaks to an issue of fear—fear that society continues to “lower the bar” in defining what is a disease in need of medical treatment. The following are some common conditions that may be life consequences and may receive treatment as medical diagnoses:

• Menopause
• Mood disorder
• Dyslexia
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Hair loss
• Insomnia
• Obesity
• Restless leg syndrome
• Acne
• Sleep disorder
• Wrinkles
• Depression
• Yellow teeth
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Sexual dysfunction
• Everyday unhappiness