July 18, 2000

Prozac is at center of new furor as result of books by Drs Joseph Glenmullen and David Healy claiming that antidepressants are often indiscriminately prescribed and that long-term use may cause brain damage; claims have drawn harsh criticism from scientists, psychiatric clinicians and mental health groups, who view them as alarmist and overblown; photos (M)

There are encouraging numbers for Gateway and Compaq, humbling ones for Apple and Drkoop.com. Details appear in the Technology Briefing column as Business Day expands its coverage of technology. Page C6.

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times column describes scene at US Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, Calif (M)

Gov George W Bush appears to be giving true consideration to selecting a vice presidential running mate who supports abortion rights; his overtures to politicians who favor abortion rights, such as Governors Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and George E Pataki of New York, have decidedly scrambled Vice Presidential field; can afford luxury of choice since conservative stalwarts seem most intent on winning back White House, but advisers are fearful that liberal stance may infuriate Roman Catholic Church and Christian Right and is not worth risk (M)

Political Memo column contends that answer to question of whether Hillary Rodham Clinton ever made anti-Semitic slur attributed to her by two long-time enemies from Arkansas politics may forever be lost to time and conflicting accounts of what actually occurred; says, however, that fact that Mrs Clinton felt compelled to call reporters to explicitly deny charges and that President Clinton took time to support his wife suggest need to address persistent doubts about candidate among Jewish voters and lingering doubts about her trustworthiness across electoral spectrum; photo (M)