Living the neurochemical self? : Experiences after the success of the SSRIs
(2016) In Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory 17(2). p.130-148- Abstract
- This is an exploration, in dialogue with Nikolas Rose’s conceptualization of the neurochemical self, of how people taking antidepressants through in-depth interviews make sense of their experiences of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The
neurochemical self, according to Rose, is a self understood as regulated by neurochemical processes, where how we feel is mapped onto the body, more precisely the brain. The findings suggest that one of Rose’s points – that the deep inner self
informed by psychoanalysis is gone – has some bearing. However, the plasticity of the biological that Rose argues accompanies a neurochemical understanding that cannot be traced; rather, the understanding of depression is gravitating towards it... (More) - This is an exploration, in dialogue with Nikolas Rose’s conceptualization of the neurochemical self, of how people taking antidepressants through in-depth interviews make sense of their experiences of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The
neurochemical self, according to Rose, is a self understood as regulated by neurochemical processes, where how we feel is mapped onto the body, more precisely the brain. The findings suggest that one of Rose’s points – that the deep inner self
informed by psychoanalysis is gone – has some bearing. However, the plasticity of the biological that Rose argues accompanies a neurochemical understanding that cannot be traced; rather, the understanding of depression is gravitating towards it being a
biological, constitutional malfunctioning. Adding to this, even though the users experienced that the pills worked, their understandings bore no relation to the wider neurochemical framework and were riddled with uncertainty. As a conclusion it is
suggested that depression is delinked from explanation, and exists in a void abandoned to containment by medicine, although not that effectively treated. In this, the only way to become a functioning subject once again seems to be to go on pills. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- This is an exploration, in dialogue with Nikolas Rose’s
conceptualization of the neurochemical self, of how people taking
antidepressants through in-depth interviews make sense of their
experiences of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The
neurochemical self, according to Rose, is a self understood as
regulated by neurochemical processes, where how we feel is
mapped onto the body, more precisely the brain. The findings
suggest that one of Rose’s points – that the deep inner self
informed by psychoanalysis is gone – has some bearing. However,
the plasticity of the biological that Rose argues accompanies a
neurochemical understanding that cannot be traced; rather, the
understanding of... (More) - This is an exploration, in dialogue with Nikolas Rose’s
conceptualization of the neurochemical self, of how people taking
antidepressants through in-depth interviews make sense of their
experiences of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The
neurochemical self, according to Rose, is a self understood as
regulated by neurochemical processes, where how we feel is
mapped onto the body, more precisely the brain. The findings
suggest that one of Rose’s points – that the deep inner self
informed by psychoanalysis is gone – has some bearing. However,
the plasticity of the biological that Rose argues accompanies a
neurochemical understanding that cannot be traced; rather, the
understanding of depression is gravitating towards it being a
biological, constitutional malfunctioning. Adding to this, even
though the users experienced that the pills worked, their
understandings bore no relation to the wider neurochemical
framework and were riddled with uncertainty. As a conclusion it is
suggested that depression is delinked from explanation, and
exists in a void abandoned to containment by medicine, although
not that effectively treated. In this, the only way to become a
functioning subject once again seems to be to go on pills. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/6a362ea0-abca-477f-b984-e64abd1f7c35
- author
- Sandell, Kerstin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016-08-28
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Antidepressant use; experiences; neurochemical self; depression; Nikolas Rose; SSRI
- in
- Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory
- volume
- 17
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84984621730
- ISSN
- 1600-910X
- project
- After the success with the new generation antidepressants: Experiences, practices, discourses and changes in the self.
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6a362ea0-abca-477f-b984-e64abd1f7c35
- date added to LUP
- 2016-09-22 09:54:22
- date last changed
- 2025-01-12 11:48:41
@article{6a362ea0-abca-477f-b984-e64abd1f7c35,
abstract = {{This is an exploration, in dialogue with Nikolas Rose’s conceptualization of the neurochemical self, of how people taking antidepressants through in-depth interviews make sense of their experiences of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The<br/>neurochemical self, according to Rose, is a self understood as regulated by neurochemical processes, where how we feel is mapped onto the body, more precisely the brain. The findings suggest that one of Rose’s points – that the deep inner self<br/>informed by psychoanalysis is gone – has some bearing. However, the plasticity of the biological that Rose argues accompanies a neurochemical understanding that cannot be traced; rather, the understanding of depression is gravitating towards it being a<br/>biological, constitutional malfunctioning. Adding to this, even though the users experienced that the pills worked, their understandings bore no relation to the wider neurochemical framework and were riddled with uncertainty. As a conclusion it is<br/>suggested that depression is delinked from explanation, and exists in a void abandoned to containment by medicine, although not that effectively treated. In this, the only way to become a functioning subject once again seems to be to go on pills.}},
author = {{Sandell, Kerstin}},
issn = {{1600-910X}},
keywords = {{Antidepressant use; experiences; neurochemical self; depression; Nikolas Rose; SSRI}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{130--148}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
series = {{Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory}},
title = {{Living the neurochemical self? : Experiences after the success of the SSRIs}},
volume = {{17}},
year = {{2016}},
}