Navigation Links
The cost of medicalizing human conditions
Date:5/17/2010

Menopause. Normal pregnancy. Infertility. ADHD. Erectile dysfunction. Over the last several decades, these conditions have come to be defined and treated as medical problems. They've been "medicalized." In the first study of its kind in the current issue of Social Science and Medicine, Brandeis researchers used national data to estimate the costs of these and a handful of other common conditions on escalating U.S. healthcare spending.

The researchers, led by Brandeis sociologist Peter Conrad, evaluated 12 conditions that had been defined as medicalized by physician organizations, and for which there were current medical spending data. The other conditions considered in the study were anxiety and behavioral disorders; body image; male pattern baldness; normal sadness; obesity; sleep disorders, and substance-related disorders.

The robust trend toward ever-greater medicalization of human conditions is undeniable, with an increasing number of medical diagnoses and treatments for behavioral problems and normal life events. Conrad and his colleagues analyzed medical spending on these disorderspayments to hospitals, pharmacies, physicians and other health care providersand discovered that they accounted for $77.1 billion in medical spending in 20053.9 percent of total domestic health care expenditures.

"We spend more on these medicalized conditions than on cancer, heart disease, or public health," said Conrad. "While medicalization is unlikely to be a key driver of skyrocketing health care costs, $77 billion represents a substantial dollar sum."

Although the study did not evaluate whether medicalization is good or bad for health and society, it demonstrates the need for understanding the societal and economic impact of growing medicalization. Conrad explained that some researchers attributed medicalization to the growth of medicine's professional jurisdiction, increased consumer demands for medical solutions, and the pharma
'/>"/>

Contact: Laura Gardner
gardner@brandeis.edu
781-736-4204
Brandeis University
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. It was brawn over beauty in human mating competition
2. Human Touch Brand Ambassador and PGA Pro Tim Clark Wins First PGA TOUR Victory at PLAYERS Championship
3. McGill-UBC project creates mouse grimace scale to help identify pain in humans and animals
4. Hardship and human rights violations continue among Burma cyclone survivors
5. Gulf Oil Spill Could Threaten Human Health
6. CEO Back from Mission to Haiti, Returns with Renewed Hope in the Human Spirit
7. Human Growth Hormone Does Boost Athletic Performance
8. New research about human genetic diseases and human development
9. American Human Development Project Releases 'A Century Apart,' Revealing Alarming Disparities in Well-Being Among U.S. Racial and Ethnic Groups
10. CBCA Names Tim Reed as Vice President, Human Resources
11. Human Touch Returns to High Point Market with the First iPhone/iPod Touch Controlled Massage Chair
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/18/2013)... who swallow high-powered magnets often need surgery and other ... new study. The researchers, from the Louisiana State ... than 79 percent of children who swallowed very strong ... in which a tube containing a camera is inserted ... cases can be treated through observation or by pumping ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... -- Regular consumption of coffee is associated with ... an autoimmune liver disease, Mayo Clinic research shows. ... Disease Week 2013 conference in Orlando, Fla. ... bile ducts that results in inflammation and subsequent ... liver, liver failure and biliary cancer. , "While ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... York (PRWEB) May 18, 2013 ... mesh products continue to move forward in a consolidated ... Bernstein Liebhard LLP reports. According to a notice on ... the Ethicon pelvic mesh litigation will be held on ... complaints have been filed in the proceeding on behalf ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... TheBeautyPlace.com answers important questions about the hairloss ... a result of stress, nutrient deficiency or wearing a ... of men suffer from male patterned baldness. ... hair transplant surgery, but additionally carries a hair care ... Bosley Professional Strength. Their product line is a five-step ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... (PRWEB) May 18, 2013 Simple changes ... in healthy snacks and drinking more water can lead ... and, ultimately, a healthier lifestyle overall. Diet Doc ... the best weight loss can be difficult and often ... their diet plans to help patients get over initial ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Swallowing Magnets Can Be Fatal for Children 2Health News:Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Upcoming Case Management Conference in New Jersey Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Litigation 2Health News:Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Upcoming Case Management Conference in New Jersey Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Litigation 3Health News:TheBeautyPlace.com Features the Two New Best-Selling Hairloss Products: Bosley Professional Strength and Nioxin Systems 2Health News:TheBeautyPlace.com Features the Two New Best-Selling Hairloss Products: Bosley Professional Strength and Nioxin Systems 3Health News:hCGTreatments / Diet Doc hCG Diets & Weight Loss Plans Announce the Best Weight Loss Through New Whole Foods, Healthy Snacks and Prescription Strength hCG Treatments 2Health News:hCGTreatments / Diet Doc hCG Diets & Weight Loss Plans Announce the Best Weight Loss Through New Whole Foods, Healthy Snacks and Prescription Strength hCG Treatments 3
... study has found that kids who engage in violent behaviour ... domestic violence in their mid 20s . ,The study, ... violence and domestic violence are not unrelated problems as previously ... adolescence are more likely to be violent as adults. ...
... up in Ludhiana and a huge clientele of females prefer ... ,Neelam Handa, who started a boutique as a ... celebrated fashion designer. ,Neelams is an exclusive outlet ... and lehengas. ,Her commitment to quality brought ...
... kidney and liver tumours may rely on a new, non-surgical ... in treating Hollywood talent manager , Louis Bershad, after he ... ,The room seemed to go black, then ... likely require open surgery, and intensive chemotherapy, both of which ...
... found that a class of commonly prescribed antidepressants may ... in older men and women . ,The ... treat depression by inhibiting the protein that transports serotonin, ... background information in the articles, and which has recently ...
... that skinny actress Keira Knightley and her co-star Sienna Miller are ... 'The Edge Of Love' . ,'The Pirates of the ... a day to beef up for her role in the film. ... see who can eat the most. ,A source claimed ...
... Justin Timberlake has reportedly outdone many of his other colleagues in ... Beano anti-gas tablets from America for his tour of Europe. ... huge list of demands, and that the tablets are quite difficult ... of demands including anti-wind tablets. Beanos are difficult to get in ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:Link Between Teenage Violence and Domestic Violence Found 2Health News:Boutiques Flourish in Ludhiana 2Health News:Radio-frequency Ablation Offers Hope for People With Inoperable Kidney Tumours 2Health News:Common Antidepressants Linked to Increased Bone Loss in Older Adults 2Health News:Common Antidepressants Linked to Increased Bone Loss in Older Adults 3
(Date:5/17/2013)... May 17, 2013 Medical devices are any ... biological product. In light of their different mechanisms, actions ... much more complicated than drug trails due to their ... safety instead of evaluating both safety and efficacy (which ... (which is the same as the SFDA) evaluate MDs ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... SAN DIEGO , May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... today that its Fast-Track Advanced Technology Small Business ... National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ... (NIH), supporting the development of novel human antibody ... S. aureus or Staph) infections, including methicillin-resistant ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... 2013  Technology advances have had a profound ... a constantly evolving communication environment, companies need to ... with internal executives. It is challenging, however, to ... and tools that are part of today,s communication ... Best Practices, LLC explores the various internal communication ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Statistical Challenges in Medical Device Trail Evaluation 2Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announces its approach to developing human antibody therapeutics against MRSA receives continued support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 2Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announces its approach to developing human antibody therapeutics against MRSA receives continued support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 3Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announces its approach to developing human antibody therapeutics against MRSA receives continued support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 4Internal Communication Strategies and Tactics that Resonate with Key Stakeholders and Drive Organizational Effectiveness 2
Micro 2000 suture forceps light-weight instruments with blue-colored anodized round handles, extremely light weight, well balanced, easy to handle, fatigueless working, easy to maintain, corrosion-re...
Micro dressing forceps....
Round tip, sharp all around, angled....
30 Degree angle....
Medicine Products: