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Cure the Cause, Not the Symptom: An Anthropological Study of Swedish Young Men’ s Lived Experiences with Depression and Antidepressants

Mares, Filip LU (2025) SANK03 20251
Social Anthropology
Abstract
This thesis explores how young Swedish men experience and make sense of depression and the use of antidepressants. It examines whether they perceive their diagnosis of depression and subsequent treatment with antidepressants as appropriate or problematic. The research critically engages with the biomedical model in psychiatric practice, emphasizing the tension between standardized diagnostic frameworks and the uniqueness of individual experiences. To investigate this disparity, the study employs ethnographic methods, including formal and informal interviews as well as open-ended discussions. The material is interpreted with previous research concerning the psychiatric framework, and through social and cultural theoretical perspectives. A... (More)
This thesis explores how young Swedish men experience and make sense of depression and the use of antidepressants. It examines whether they perceive their diagnosis of depression and subsequent treatment with antidepressants as appropriate or problematic. The research critically engages with the biomedical model in psychiatric practice, emphasizing the tension between standardized diagnostic frameworks and the uniqueness of individual experiences. To investigate this disparity, the study employs ethnographic methods, including formal and informal interviews as well as open-ended discussions. The material is interpreted with previous research concerning the psychiatric framework, and through social and cultural theoretical perspectives. A thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within young men’s narratives, illustrating dissonance and misunderstanding between the individual and the healthcare system. This study concludes that personal, social, and cultural factors shape how depression is experienced. The young men in this study negotiate their experiences in different ways that stand in contrast to the standardized frameworks used in clinical practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Mares, Filip LU
supervisor
organization
course
SANK03 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Social anthropology, Depression, Antidepressants, Psychiatric framework, Biomedical model
language
English
id
9196294
date added to LUP
2025-06-10 17:15:38
date last changed
2025-06-10 17:15:38
@misc{9196294,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores how young Swedish men experience and make sense of depression and the use of antidepressants. It examines whether they perceive their diagnosis of depression and subsequent treatment with antidepressants as appropriate or problematic. The research critically engages with the biomedical model in psychiatric practice, emphasizing the tension between standardized diagnostic frameworks and the uniqueness of individual experiences. To investigate this disparity, the study employs ethnographic methods, including formal and informal interviews as well as open-ended discussions. The material is interpreted with previous research concerning the psychiatric framework, and through social and cultural theoretical perspectives. A thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within young men’s narratives, illustrating dissonance and misunderstanding between the individual and the healthcare system. This study concludes that personal, social, and cultural factors shape how depression is experienced. The young men in this study negotiate their experiences in different ways that stand in contrast to the standardized frameworks used in clinical practice.}},
  author       = {{Mares, Filip}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Cure the Cause, Not the Symptom: An Anthropological Study of Swedish Young Men’ s Lived Experiences with Depression and Antidepressants}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}