Letter:Redistribute wealth for a less mad world

Oliver James provides only two alternatives to the alteration of serotonin levels - changing environment and/or social status, or using strong drugs.

If altering serotonin levels has such a dramatic effect and the measurement of changed levels is all that is required of a study of different treatments, then surely it would be simple and cheap to include the wide range of other available therapies in a study of the options. Homeopathy, acupuncture and health kinesiology all come to mind. Should any of these prove as useful as the "mind-altering" drugs, the resulting treatment should be more cost-effective and help to reduce the grip pharmaceuticals have on our society.

K R Digby

Maidstone, Kent