‘Chemical Imbalance’ and Other Stories
Periscope
by Chester Leangee Datoon
Gresham’s Law tells us that if a population is given a choice to utilize two forms of currency, one with lower intrinsic value and another with higher intrinsic value, the population will most likely utilize the currency with lower intrinsic value. Drawing a parallel between Gresham’s Law and education, perhaps this could be why simplistic ideas proliferate in the general public rather than complex ones.
The school is where our preconceived notions on various information are reformed and recalibrated to be evidence-based and factual. Even simple statements I know like “Vitamin D comes from the sun” or “L-carnitine drinks are good for weight loss,” are discussed thoroughly to rectify such erroneous ideas. While these one-sentence health ideas pose little harm, health misinformation becomes a pressing issue when broad concepts are misunderstood.
Depression and Chemical Imbalance
“Majority of mental health disorders are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain such as poor dopamine and serotonin release.” Mental health awareness and advocacies boomed in the Philippines during the 21st century, with various speakers shedding light on mental health and mental health disorders. The statement above was also popularized at this period and I, for one, have attended a mental health seminar with a statement like it. Unfortunately, the statement is deceptive; mental health disorders are not caused by a chemical imbalance.
The myth of chemical imbalance surrounding mental health disorders, primarily depression, has infiltrated not only the general public but also the academe. While it is true that several studies have shown a correlation between depression and fluctuations in dopamine and serotonin levels, it is wrong to say that this ‘chemical imbalance’ is the causative agent for mental health disorders. Ultimately, mental health disorders are complex, stemming from genetic, neurochemical, and psychosocial factors.
However, combating the idea of ‘chemical imbalance’ has been a tough task, especially for the general public. Most likely due to conflicting ‘evidence’ paraded in the academe, the general public took it upon themselves to delineate which is true or false concerning mental health and mental health disorders. In a way, this has paved the way for misinformation when it comes to treating mental health disorders, and how many Filipinos would probably say that antidepressants are addicting or that therapy doesn’t work since medicine has to be used to fix a chemical imbalance.
Drug Misuse
In addition to the problem concerning mental health and ‘chemical imbalance,’ drug misuse is rampant in the country. An example of this would be the application of crushed amoxicillin to treat open wounds and promote blood clotting. Providing information concerning antimicrobial resistance (AMR) amongst the Filipino population has been a challenge. This is exacerbated by poverty where Filipinos cannot procure the intended quantity of medicine for their treatment regimen. Health insecurity driven by poverty is a factor in why AMR is such a difficult concept to integrate within the Filipino population.
Likewise, information concerning drugs prone to illicit use is a global problem; case in point the excessive fearmongering about the use of marijuana, opioids, and methamphetamine. While stringent legislation surveillance and control are placed upon these substances, there is a double standard when compared to alcohol and nicotine which have displayed a higher incidence of harm to self and others. With the regulatory bodies seeing that alcohol and nicotine regulation is lax, the public perceives these substances to be less harmful compared to others even if data and studies show otherwise.
Stem Cell and Gluta ‘Magic’
Inefficient healthcare regulatory bodies can lead to detrimental situations and this just recently happened when a woman diagnosed with chronic kidney disease died last January 13 due to an anaphylactic shock from a stem cell and glutathione intravenous infusion. While the reason for the intravenous infusion session was not disclosed in news articles, approved stem cell use in the country is limited to three: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, corneal resurfacing, and skin regeneration.
With this in mind, stem cell and glutathione supplements do not work despite advertisements’ numerous promises. Apart from the known poor oral absorption of glutathione, studies show little to no evidence concerning the efficacy of stem cell and glutathione supplements. The benefits these products claim are only those of an illustrious dream and if a change does happen to one’s physical state, it is more of a placebo effect.
Nonetheless, the proliferation of stem cell and glutathione supplements and transfusion in social media masks this truth to the public eye. While efforts to remove these products from the market were made through FDA advisories, the general public is disinterested in reading formal announcements available only on their website. Passionate healthcare professionals also tried to dispel the ‘magic’ surrounding the supplements yet their efforts earned the scrutiny of the Filipino public as their favorite celebrities advertised them.
Fact and Fiction
Public perception of different health aspects had long been mystified and fictionalized to understand them. In a way, notions such as ‘depression as a chemical imbalance’ or ‘stem cell and glutathione pills for healthy skin’ could be seen as a means of comfort for the Filipino public to understand the complex and inaccessible world of Filipino healthcare. However, the modern scientific method was not built on fiction and comfort; it is the duty of professionals to communicate and shed light on the truth of matters concerning the public.
Bearing in mind these unfortunate stories and the information landscape, dispelling healthcare misinformation in the Filipino population is a daunting task. With lax regulating bodies, crackdowns of suppliers and retailers of substandard and dangerous drugs do not happen, leading to rampant consumption. It becomes a burden for healthcare professionals to fix these ‘mistakes,’ which could have been avoided had regulatory entities been proactive in health promotion and disease intervention.
Beyond legislative and regulatory mishaps, it is imperative for future health professionals also to be mindful of how they communicate scientific information to their patients. Circling back to Gresham’s Law, “Bad money drives out good money,” likewise concise ideas are better than complex explanations, especially in a healthcare counseling setting riddled by manpower insufficiency. But this concise statement has to be backed by factual evidence.
Excellent health literacy in the 21st century Philippines can only be realized if healthcare professionals go beyond the walls of the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy and educate the general public. Additionally, regulatory bodies must find ways to efficiently communicate advisories, warnings, and memoranda to the Filipino public and be proactive in safeguarding public health. Society has other stories to tell; it is the responsibility of regulatory agencies and health professionals to determine the credibility of these stories.
