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Updated: May 28, 2026
05:10
Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
Naming the problem that has no name: creating targets for standardized drugs
1Department of Sociology and Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, 112 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. ahorwitz@sas.rutgers.edu
Summary
The standardization of mental illnesses, driven by professional and economic factors, emerged in the 1980s. This shift created specific diagnostic targets for new psychiatric drugs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Historically, mental health issues were often undifferentiated.
- The American psychiatric profession's legitimacy and financial stability became linked to treating specific diseases.
Observation:
- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition (DSM-III) in 1980 standardized psychiatric diagnoses.
- This standardization allowed for precise measurement and quantification of mental health conditions.
Findings:
- The late 1980s saw the rise of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) targeting these standardized entities.
- Professional, political, economic, and cultural forces contributed to this standardization of mental illnesses.
Implications:
- This historical context shaped modern psychiatric practice and pharmacotherapy.
- Understanding the evolution of diagnostic criteria is crucial for contemporary mental health treatment.
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