tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post1724601154659406207..comments2024-03-29T06:02:41.835+01:00Comments on Nick Brown's blog: Attaining national happiness through chemistryNick Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172030184497186082noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-3473186207274261412014-09-21T22:32:16.348+02:002014-09-21T22:32:16.348+02:00I'm not a specialist. But there's no doubt...<br />I'm not a specialist. But there's no doubt, that the day to day use of modern anti depressants are way to high in Denmark. But it's being discussed. The danish Doctor ( Practioner ?) are under strong pressure to minimize the use. But ex. use of other and older types of medicine are below most other countries ex. the use of Benzo types. <br />- Anyway, We drink to much also, try to put alcohol in your matrix <br /><br />Nice analysis though ! <br />Niels Georg Bachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09128441699921326890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-83499761920744971362014-09-21T19:01:25.825+02:002014-09-21T19:01:25.825+02:00Yes --- in fact I think that this is by far the be...Yes --- in fact I think that this is by far the best explanation. I worked that out about 24 house after I made the original post (which you'll see was back in February). But it makes for an interesting exercise for the reader. This might be fun to take into an undergraduate statistics class.Nick Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18266307287741345798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-22486421715242209702014-09-21T18:23:56.271+02:002014-09-21T18:23:56.271+02:00Have you considered that the high amount of antide...Have you considered that the high amount of antidepressants taken is actually a result of cheap and high quality medical care in those countries? Also the higher education levels, health awareness and lower stigma concerning mental health.<br /><br />It may be that Scandinavian countries have few depressed people, but they are all cared for and prescribed antidepressants. <br /><br />Turkey, Estonia and Hungary have comparatively poor access to healthcare, meaning far fewer people are prescribed antidepressants, despite the possibly higher need.<br /><br />Try factoring in access to healthcare and analyse again.<br /><br />Your analysis is statistically sound, but the answer is only as good as the question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-29845302692097122242014-09-21T17:22:20.112+02:002014-09-21T17:22:20.112+02:00I have lived both an Denmark and Sweden for quite ...I have lived both an Denmark and Sweden for quite a while. I believe that there is just not much alternative to happiness.<br /><br />Unhappiness is a useful feeling if things need to be changed to the better. But in Scandinavia most things are well ordered and controlled by the state. And you have a personal number that you use for everything: to get a bank account, to rent an apartment, to get a job, to pay taxes, your health status is linked to that number as well... and all registered by the state who takes care for you and often chooses what is best.<br /><br />If things just can't be changed, being unhappy is just not an option.<br /><br />Some pepole believe that this phenomenon is captured well by the Law of Jante: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_JanteJan Kalbitzerhttp://kalbitzer.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-8217011904551874692014-09-21T15:24:05.317+02:002014-09-21T15:24:05.317+02:00Indeed. That's why the Spearman correlations ...Indeed. That's why the Spearman correlations are in the .6-.7 range and not higher. :-)Nick Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18266307287741345798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-50354656880760728552014-09-21T15:20:32.295+02:002014-09-21T15:20:32.295+02:00Netherlands ranks 4th on the happiness list and is...Netherlands ranks 4th on the happiness list and is among the lowest with the use of antidepressants. Your article doesn't mention that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890764972166411105.post-68570427717628650552014-09-21T12:44:59.346+02:002014-09-21T12:44:59.346+02:00I remarked on the "Danish Paradox" some ...I remarked on the "Danish Paradox" some years ago in a qualitative way: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2009/01/24/the-british-are-incredibly-sad/ But you've gone much further and shown a proper correlation. Great post!Neuroskeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06647064768789308157noreply@blogger.com