« New Radio Ad Examines Economic Problems and Depression | Main | Utah legislation would have health insurance companies cover autism therapy »
December 24, 2008
Economic crisis deflating self-esteem of some men in the financial industry, columnist writes
In the New York Times (12/16, D5) Mind column, Richard A. Friedman, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, writes that, while "it is too soon to gauge the true psychiatric consequences of the economic debacle," and "it will be some time before epidemiologists can tell us for certain whether depression and suicide are on the rise," there is currently "no question that the crisis is leaving its mark on individuals, especially men."
Dr. Friedman points out, "Over the last few months, I have seen a group of patients, all men, who experienced a near collapse in their self-esteem, though none of them were clinically depressed." According to Dr. Friedman, "Each of these patients experienced a sudden loss of the sense of mastery in the face of the financial meltdown and could not gauge their success or failure without the only benchmark they knew: a financial profit."
Dr. Friedman observes that "the previously expanding market gave them a sense of power along with something as strong as a drug: thrill." Now, however, "that thrill is gone, replaced by anxiety and fear."
Posted by admin at December 24, 2008 12:43 AM