The condition that lost its name but gained a treatment: : experiences of depression and antidepressant use in a neoliberal context
(2015) 9th European Feminist Research Conference, Sex & Capital- Abstract
- This paper analyses experiences of depression and antidepressant use within a neoliberal society. The paper is based on interviews with mainly women using antidepressants in Sweden and makes use of the post-political as conceptualized by Chantal Mouffe as a framework.
I find that depression is reduced to a state, a diagnosis. In comparing with Nancy Friedan who gave the depression and despair American women in the suburbs felt a name and a solution – curbed and isolated lives and emancipation, I argue that depression now has lost its name. This means that articulations of connections between living conditions and becoming depressed are mostly absent in the interviews.
In the second I problematize the treatment –... (More) - This paper analyses experiences of depression and antidepressant use within a neoliberal society. The paper is based on interviews with mainly women using antidepressants in Sweden and makes use of the post-political as conceptualized by Chantal Mouffe as a framework.
I find that depression is reduced to a state, a diagnosis. In comparing with Nancy Friedan who gave the depression and despair American women in the suburbs felt a name and a solution – curbed and isolated lives and emancipation, I argue that depression now has lost its name. This means that articulations of connections between living conditions and becoming depressed are mostly absent in the interviews.
In the second I problematize the treatment – antidepressants. First I highlight that the treatment seems to become permanent for many, resulting in long term antidepressant use. Secondly I problematize the underlying necessity that comes forward strongly in the interviews of functioning, to hold on to a job and keep family relations going.
Concluding I argue that the lack of a problem combined with a treatment that seems to uphold functioning, forecloses formulations of that something is wrong and/or could change. Linking to the post-political, I would argue that medicine accepts a significant role in understanding depression as a de-politicized health problem. This makes antidepressants a good neoliberal solution, since it makes it possible for persons to stay functioning without articulating any critique or demands for change.
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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8259973
- author
- Sandell, Kerstin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- depression, experiences, antidepressants, neoliberalism
- conference name
- 9th European Feminist Research Conference, Sex & Capital
- conference location
- Rovaniemi, Finland
- conference dates
- 2015-06-03 - 2015-06-05
- project
- After the success with the new generation antidepressants: Experiences, practices, discourses and changes in the self.
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- cad273db-4d0a-4df1-828e-9685e39ef10b (old id 8259973)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 13:00:27
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:11:44
@misc{cad273db-4d0a-4df1-828e-9685e39ef10b,
abstract = {{This paper analyses experiences of depression and antidepressant use within a neoliberal society. The paper is based on interviews with mainly women using antidepressants in Sweden and makes use of the post-political as conceptualized by Chantal Mouffe as a framework. <br/><br/>I find that depression is reduced to a state, a diagnosis. In comparing with Nancy Friedan who gave the depression and despair American women in the suburbs felt a name and a solution – curbed and isolated lives and emancipation, I argue that depression now has lost its name. This means that articulations of connections between living conditions and becoming depressed are mostly absent in the interviews. <br/>In the second I problematize the treatment – antidepressants. First I highlight that the treatment seems to become permanent for many, resulting in long term antidepressant use. Secondly I problematize the underlying necessity that comes forward strongly in the interviews of functioning, to hold on to a job and keep family relations going. <br/>Concluding I argue that the lack of a problem combined with a treatment that seems to uphold functioning, forecloses formulations of that something is wrong and/or could change. Linking to the post-political, I would argue that medicine accepts a significant role in understanding depression as a de-politicized health problem. This makes antidepressants a good neoliberal solution, since it makes it possible for persons to stay functioning without articulating any critique or demands for change. <br/>}},
author = {{Sandell, Kerstin}},
keywords = {{depression; experiences; antidepressants; neoliberalism}},
language = {{eng}},
title = {{The condition that lost its name but gained a treatment: : experiences of depression and antidepressant use in a neoliberal context}},
year = {{2015}},
}