Toward Standardized Usage of the Word Serendipity in the Historiography of Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Contradictory views are expressed in the literature about the role played by serendipity in discoveries that led to modern psychopharmacology. This article attempts to resolve these contradictions by providing an operational definition of serendipity. The utility of the proposed definition is explored in the context of 18 discoveries. The results show that the most common pattern in the development of early psychiatric medications is serendipitous observation leading to non-serendipitous demonstration of clinical utility. The analysis also reveals examples of relatively pure serendipitous and non-serendipitous discoveries. The proposed definition appears to be reliable and valid.

History of psychiatry and its institutions

“…But serendipity is best understood as a 'scientific construct' that requires 'a proper structuring of research environments' [9]. But serendipity is best understood as a 'scientific construct' that requires 'a proper structuring of research environments' [9].…”

Serendipia: Historias de científicos que revolucionaron la Odontología

“…Aunque el concepto hace referencia a la existencia de la suerte, accidente o como se diría coloquialmente "chiripa", en realidad involucra una variable aún más importante, la sagacidad; pues solamente una mente abierta, astuta, con alta capacidad investigativa, deductiva y creativa tiene la capacidad de percibir que ese hecho fortuito, error o situación no esperada, se convierta en un descubrimiento relevante. No obstante, a pesar de que esos hallazgos por serendipia solo suceden en un selecto grupo con altas capacidades cognitivas, algunos se avergüenzan de relatar la historia real de su hallazgo, pues éste se desprestigiaría por ser una simple "chiripa" (3,4,8,9). Sin embargo, como menciona Pérez Tamayo, desde la época de Adán y Eva, cuántas personas vieron caer manzanas de los árboles y solo a Newton se le ocurrió la ley de la gravedad (2), la diferencia radica en dejar pasar ese accidente o interpretarlo de manera científica.…”

On the Exploitation of Serendipity in Drug Discovery

“…At least one prominent expert has attributed the apparent stagnation to a decline in serendipity [9]. Indeed, many commentators, us included [1][2][3], have observed that serendipity played a pronounced role in the discoveries of the earlier period.…”

“…We have written previously about the nature of serendipity and the role that it played in the "Psychopharmacology Revolution" of the 1950s and 1960s [1][2][3]. However, we have not previously addressed the issue of whether it is possible or desirable to design studies to enhance and exploit serendipity.…”

“…As we suggested previously [1], the term serendipity shall be defined as "the discovery of something not sought". This definition, like most others, requires the element of sagacity.…”