We’ve all seen them. Most tend to be middle-aged women and, generally, are identified by their rather aggressive behavior usually involving yelling and screaming.  These women are condescendingly referred to as “Karens.” But is it funny?  Seriously, is it funny? AbleChild would argue that it is more than likely that these women just aren’t randomly angry or naturally aggressive, but, rather, something much more personal is going on? 

Based on the data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one seriously must ask if it’s entirely possible that these women- these “Karens” – don’t even know why their behavior has become in-your-face-scary-aggressive. AbleChild suggests that this unnaturally aggressive behavior is born in a psychiatric diagnosis and a mind-altering drug “treatment.” 

In fact, it seems odd, that given it has become so common to refer to aggressive women as “Karen” that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) hasn’t added being a “Karen” to its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) with all the alleged symptoms, even making these symptoms a “spectrum” of behaviors that can be “treated.” It’s easy to visualize the defense… “Yes, I’m on the Karen Spectrum.”

But let’s be honest, it’s no secret that America has become the psychiatric drug experimental playground for the psycho/pharma industry and according to the most recent data available, women are being drugged at record numbers. As of 2020, the CDC reports that more than twenty-one percent of women in the US took at least one psychiatric drug for a mental health disorder, with antidepressants, anxiety meds and sleep pills at the top of the list of prescribed drugs.

One in five American women, especially middle-aged and older, 40-59 years of age, are twice as likely as men to take antidepressants and the rate gets worse over 60 with the data showing one in four 60 and over women are taking at least one antidepressant.

What’s more interesting is that the psycho/pharma industry is cashing in on the increased diagnosing. Good RX data in 2024, for example, showed women spent 50% more out of pocket on mental health medications than men totaling nearly $2 billion additional spending per year. Good RX research further reveals that among the 45-64 age group, women spent 99% more than men on the mental health prescriptions and it skyrocket to 117% in women 65 and older.

In fact, Good RX reports that “women consistently outspent men on treatment for depression and anxiety across all age groups and in 2024, women spent a staggering $5.4 billion out of pocket on treatment for mental conditions, compared to $3.6 billion spent by men – nearly a $2 billion gap. So why are so many women being diagnosed and drugged?

Obviously, there are numerous reasons for such outrageous increases in women on psychiatric drugs, including that women have unique health care issues and are more willing than men to seek professional medical care. Women, too, are more likely to be caregivers, face economic hardship and experience trauma.

So, what should women expect, for example, as side effects associated with antidepressants? According to Drugs.com the possible side effects associated with sertraline (Zoloft) are top of the list aggressive reaction, mood and behavior changes, agitation, anxiety or nervousness, insomnia, emotional lability, mania, paranoia, suicidal ideation, abnormal thinking, hallucination, and irritability. Certainly, sounds like this drug could be responsible for causing a very cranky woman. 

Antianxiety drugs also are responsible for serious side effects. Drugs.com reports that the benzodiazepine alprazolam (Xanax), for example, is a treatment for anxiety and possible side effects include hallucinations, risk-taking behavior, increased energy, agitation, talkative, racing thoughts, mood and mental changes, irritability, disinhibition, altered mood, hallucinations, abuse, aggressive or hostile behavior, depersonalization, rage, and suicidal ideation to name a few.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that these drugs can cause women to become aggressive. And, given that women are becoming the most drugged group in the US, isn’t it possible that the “Karen” moniker may actually be a side effect of psychiatric “treatments?”

Taken singularly the drug could be responsible for the aggressive behavior that is seen in too many women today. But imagine if these same women are on a cocktail of these drugs and it’s easy to see how out of control one may become. Is it really too much to make the connection between the possible side effects of the drugs now heavily prescribed to women and this new rage-based behavior? 

Further, it is of interest that women are prescribed these mind-altering drugs for longer periods of time, making the drug dependency chronic and continuous. Additionally, there is no doubt that prescribing physicians are not advising women that aggressive behavior is a serious side effect associated with the psychiatric drugs.

Women represent the majority of patients with psychiatric diagnoses and are also the largest users of psychiatric mind-altering drugs, especially antidepressants. And women also are more likely to take a cocktail of drugs, clearly, based on the above possible side effects, making them susceptible to adverse drug reactions. 

Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to stop making women the butt of the “Karen” joke and understand that women probably have no idea that the drugs prescribed as “treatment” are responsible for much of the unnatural and aggressive behavior that now seems to permeate certain drugged age groups. 

It seems quite possible that middle aged women have literally been drugged out of their minds. It isn’t funny and these “Karens” probably have no idea why their behavior has become so aggressive.

Be the Voice for the Voiceless

AbleChild is a 501(3) C nonprofit organization that has recently co-written landmark legislation in Tennessee, setting a national precedent for transparency and accountability in the intersection of mental health, pharmaceutical practices, and public safety.

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