Newsweek; "The Depressing News about Anti-depressants"

[Willy50]

I'm posting this on this side since it is quite common that antidepressants accompany treatment.  

This is an amazing read.  It'[s too long to post here but well worth the read, IMHO.  Willy

The quick synopsis is that in a meta-analysis of anti-depressant trials a researcher is concluding that placebo effect is accountable for 75%-82% of anti-depressant response.  In a 9.6 billion per year niche in the United States the findings are causing some distress in the whole industry.  There will be some interesting rebuttal, no doubt.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/232781/page/1

[IMstacie]

I realize the researchers are skilled in conducting these studies but how can you study a depression drug on points for particular issues with the total being used for the scale?  A person's depression is so unique to that individual.  It's like they did numerous studies using the "big stick" approach, lumped it all together and made it a fact. The conclusions maybe true but I for one don't think they are meaningful.

[Willy50]

I take no joy in posting this. I don't know if it's true.  I have for years suggested that people get on anti-depressants during TX, even telling people to consider them if they have substance abuse issues.  For me, the issue is to get people free of the HCV.  They can deal with the antidepressant issues following TX.

I think that I still would waver and suggest the use of them in spite of the study.  First of all; it's just one analysis.  There will be plenty of comment on it in the time to come.  Further; if they help, who cares how or why they work?  Well....I do care and I will continue to be interested in the fallout from this article.

I know some people don't take kindly to pot use but I am in favor of using anything that gets people through treatment.  This is just one more possible "tool" that may be considered. (no, I'm not a pot user myself)

I didn't post the article to discount AD's but merely to bring some of the latest info on them here.  Someone else was sure to and I think the insight and feedback from some of the regulars here with their experiences may help put this in perspective.
(such as yours; thanks)

I still find the article very interesting.  It makes ya wonder.....

Willy

[tashka]

I read this study. The only thing I can offer is my personal experience with antidepressants. I was severely depressed after the birth of my child. For a long time I could not even understand what was wrong-why I have this sadness, tears, irrational gloom and anxiety, why I can not sleep even when I am exhausted. I tried many different things before resorting to Paxil-St John's wart, other herbs, exercise, diet, prayer... Nothing helped, and depression deepened. It was hard to function. I was really convinced that antidepressant will not help either, especially considering that when you are depressed, it seems that nothing at all can make things better. I hated to be so weak, and to resort to the psychiatric drug, but I decided to take it.

For me the effect was amazing. The next morning after taking this drug, I woke up feeling better. Not happy, but better-ready to get out of bed and do something. In three days I was back to my normal cheerful self. And I had no side effects at all.
The improvement was so dramatic, that I don't think it could be attributed to placebo effect. I took Paxil for several years, and then slowly tapered off. No depression since then. I have my ups and downs, sometimes feel sad, but I am not depressed. I guess, I really had some kind of chemical imbalance that the drug fixed.