Restless leg syndrome, social anxiety disorder, female sexual dysfunction, celebrity worship syndrome - it seems that a new illness is invented every week, covering every potential quirk in human behaviour.I know a few people, well one specifically, who should read and then re-read this article. And then print it out and tape it to their office wall, bedroom wall, kitchen wall, bathroom wall, forehead, etc....
Some other money quotes:
"If you look at the American Psychiatric Association 'bible', you'll see almost every piece of human behaviour can be classified as being in some way aberrant."
Dr Kendall sees dangers in a "tendency for new categories to be invented, often at the behest of drug companies looking for a new drug".
In 1997 the US fully legalised the advertising of prescription medicines.
Since then television ad breaks and popular magazines have been packed with explicit claims for the effectiveness of anti-depressants, behaviour modifying drugs and pre-menstrual tension treatments.
Prescriptions for the most heavily-advertised drugs have risen significantly.
'The Medicalisation of Normality' is broadcast on BBC Radio Four at 2100 BST on Monday 30 March and repeated on Wednesday 1 April at 1630 BST.
