Side Effects

Health

An Epidemic of Questionable Care

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on May 12, 2015

When does “low-value care” become no-value care?

When does “low-value care” become no-value care?

ADHD

Faulty Reporting on ADHD

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on April 11, 2015

Newspaper of record criticized for its tardy response to overmedicalization.

Newspaper of record criticized for its tardy response to overmedicalization.

Bipolar Disorder

“Side Effects” Turns A Million

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on March 1, 2015

The blog "Side Effects" receives its millionth cumulative click.

The blog "Side Effects" receives its millionth cumulative click.

DSM

New DSM-5 Disorder Spurs FDA Drug Approval, Expanded Market

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on February 14, 2015

A drug-maker's blunt challenge: “increase the numbers of patients diagnosed.”

A drug-maker's blunt challenge: “increase the numbers of patients diagnosed.”

Consumer Behavior

Personalized Genomics, Data-Hoarding, and Drug Companies

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on January 14, 2015

Genetic-testing kits have been hailed as advancing medical research and disease prevention. Who owns the data and what are the risks of them being sold, hacked, or misused?

Genetic-testing kits have been hailed as advancing medical research and disease prevention. Who owns the data and what are the risks of them being sold, hacked, or misused?

Child Development

Tackling Childhood Obesity: What Works, What Doesn’t

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on November 10, 2014

How childhood obesity became a global problem, and what some countries are doing about it.

How childhood obesity became a global problem, and what some countries are doing about it.

Placebo

Ebola, a Promising Serum, and Kent Brantly’s Recovery

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on August 21, 2014

Is Dr. Brantly’s recovery from Ebola due to medicine, religious faith, or both?

Is Dr. Brantly’s recovery from Ebola due to medicine, religious faith, or both?

Child Development

The Business of Medicalizing Infancy

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on June 4, 2014

What has happened to the medical principle “First, do no harm"?

What has happened to the medical principle “First, do no harm"?

Addiction

The Hidden Dangers of Benzodiazepines

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on May 22, 2014

What Americans don’t know about some of their most widely prescribed drugs.

What Americans don’t know about some of their most widely prescribed drugs.

Consumer Behavior

Higher Penalties for Big Pharma: Data Destruction Alleged

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on April 13, 2014

Will the latest record fine against the pharmaceutical industry end its worst practices?

Will the latest record fine against the pharmaceutical industry end its worst practices?

Health

Income Inequality Is Making Americans Sick

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on February 21, 2014

Health in America is determined as much by zip code as by genetic code.

Health in America is determined as much by zip code as by genetic code.

Happiness

The Mathematics of Happiness Turns Out to Be a Fraud

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on January 22, 2014

The idea that Positive Psychology can give us a "happiness ratio" has been well and truly debunked.

The idea that Positive Psychology can give us a "happiness ratio" has been well and truly debunked.

SSRIs

The OECD Warns on Antidepressant Overprescribing

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on November 22, 2013

Antidepressant consumption is not matched by an increase in global diagnoses, raising fresh concerns about overuse.

Antidepressant consumption is not matched by an increase in global diagnoses, raising fresh concerns about overuse.

DSM

Crazy Like Us: How the U.S. Exports Its Models of Illness

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on October 9, 2013

DSM-5 is Americanizing the world's understanding of the mind. Is that useful or worrisome?

DSM-5 is Americanizing the world's understanding of the mind. Is that useful or worrisome?

Attention

Hoarding, Collecting, Accumulating: DSM-5 and American Life

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on July 25, 2013

Hoarding: how a major new disorder developed from “a line carved in sand.”

Hoarding: how a major new disorder developed from “a line carved in sand.”

Bias

The Push for More Accountability

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on July 1, 2013

The drive for open-access data is making rapid headway.

The drive for open-access data is making rapid headway.

Grief

The Distortion of Grief

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on June 14, 2013

The implication, in DSM-5, that mourning should be fast and efficient is unnecessary and disturbing.

The implication, in DSM-5, that mourning should be fast and efficient is unnecessary and disturbing.

Psychiatry

Should Lack of Lust Be a Psychiatric Condition?

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on May 26, 2013

Does lack of lust really belong in a manual of mental disorders?

Does lack of lust really belong in a manual of mental disorders?

Psychiatry

The NIMH Withdraws Support for DSM-5

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on May 4, 2013

In a humiliating blow to the APA, the National Institute of Mental Health has indicated that it is withdrawing support for DSM-5.

In a humiliating blow to the APA, the National Institute of Mental Health has indicated that it is withdrawing support for DSM-5.

Openness

A More Transparent Future

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on April 6, 2013

Could secrecy about data soon be a thing of the past?

Could secrecy about data soon be a thing of the past?