Psychopharmacology ethics in Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh's film Side Effects directly addresses several issues related to the field of psychology, including the use and abuse of pharmacological interventions. The film focuses on the ethics of psychopharmacology, especially when used to treat symptoms of depression. Depression is a serious mental illness that has a number of different symptoms including sleep and cognitive disturbances, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, and in some cases, suicidal ideation. Side Effects addresses some of these symptoms, and others, even though the explanation takes place within the context of patients falsifying their symptoms. Moreover, the film discusses the ways medications are used to mitigate some of the symptoms of depression. The film also shows how important it is for psychiatrists to make informed decisions about their patient's medications. Side Effects does a good job elucidating the ethical concerns in clinical psychology.

Before she commits the murder, Emily had been treated for depression and had suicidal ideations after her husband goes to prison. She initially sought counseling. Counseling and various forms of non-pharmaceutical interventions can be effective in treating depression. Some patients may respond better to cognitive-behavioral psychology or to another intervention style such as psychoanalysis. The film does not go into the different schools of counseling psychology, but suggests that many patients who suffer from depression might be better off availing themselves of counseling rather than strictly relying on drugs to manage symptoms. In most cases, a combination of counseling and pharmaceuticals will be recommended, and Side Effects does show this to be the case.

The film is a psychological thriller, in which the characters' murderous actions and manipulations are themselves psychological problems. Emily and Victoria conspire to commit murder, which reveals a degree of sociopathic or psychopathic tendencies and a possible personality disorder in both of them. However, the film does not get into the issue of personality disorders. The film instead focuses on the ethics of clinical psychology and the duties professionals have to their patients. For example, Jonathan wanted genuinely to help Emily. He prescribes her several different antidepressants at the beginning of the film, but none of them seem to work. In real life, patients often do not respond well to their antidepressants even after many months of taking them. This depiction of antidepressants is therefore realistic, as many patients may become frustrated with their lack of progress. Unfortunately, it seems as if Emily might have been faking her most serious symptoms all along. Jonathan discovers that her suicide attempt was phony, indeed substantiating the possibility that she may be sociopathic and not just depressed. Jonathan does his due diligence as a professional by contacting Emily's previous counselor. He did not, however, research Ablixa to the degree to which he should have. A psychiatrist does have an ethical duty to research the drugs they prescribe.