George Mason University’s History News Network features a recent article entitled “How Depression Went Mainstream”. In the piece, Robin Lindley interviews renowned psychiatrist and historian of psychiatry Dr. Edward Shorter, who talks about his new book How Everyone Became Depressed: The Rise and Fall of the Nervous Breakdown (Oxford University Press):

Every year, more and more Americans are treated for complaints of depression and often do not derive relief from treatment for their symptoms that may include anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep, and physical problems.

According to acclaimed historian of psychiatry, Dr. Edward Shorter, the diagnosis of depression has increased steadily over the past forty years and, during our lifetimes, “one American in five will receive a diagnosis of depression.” That’s more than sixty million people.

To read the entire article, click here.