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Pharmaceutical virtue.

Emily Martin1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA. em81@nyu.edu

Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
|July 13, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study examines the history of psychopharmacology drug development, particularly the experiences of pharmaceutical employees. It explores how industry professionals navigate public criticism while finding meaning in their work.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychopharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Industry History
  • Medical Sociology

Background:

  • Early psychopharmacology development was marked by intense optimism.
  • The pharmaceutical industry's role in drug development has faced increasing public scrutiny.
  • Historical context of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the history of psychopharmacological agent development.
  • To examine the ambivalent position of the pharmaceutical industry and its employees.
  • To understand how individuals maintain meaningful work amidst public criticism.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative research approach.
  • Interviews with retired pharmaceutical employees active in the 1950s-1960s.

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  • Interviews with current pharmaceutical sales and marketing employees.

    • Main Results:

    • Early drug development involved fervent optimism and sophisticated educational materials for sales.
    • Contemporary employees face public vilification but strive for job dignity and meaning.
    • Individuals reconcile working within processes perceived as both social good and social evil.

    Conclusions:

    • The development of psychopharmacological agents has a complex history.
    • Pharmaceutical employees experience a duality of purpose and public perception.
    • Understanding individual coping mechanisms is crucial for those in ethically ambiguous professional roles.