19878

Two recent articles hit on the same theme. This one discussed the recent sharp increase in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The summary of the new book Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness (SN: 11/17/07, p. 319) hit much closer to the mark. If you want to know why these diagnoses have increased so markedly, forget medicine. Follow the money. There is a tremendous amount of money to be made prescribing, manufacturing, and distributing drugs.

Tom DuBois
Glens Falls, N.Y.