Anti-depressants don't work - In The Papers - France24

[bananas]

Run time: 04:05 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF0YIyhqbT0   Posted on YouTube: February 26, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 27, 2008 By DU Member: bananas Views on DU: 531

 
IN THE PAPERS : Trials cast doubt on the effectiveness of Prozac. Poll shows that Obama is the best placed candidate to beat McCain. Explanations from the French president about his insulting behaviour.

[melody]

1. That isn't what the study shows n/t

[sam sarrha]

2. anti depressants in general are only a few percentage points better than Placebo,

diet, exercise, Tryptophan, acupuncture are also better than Placebo

[canucksawbones]

7. you are misinformed

exercise is essential in the treatment of depression, however the commentary that diet, tryptophan and acupuncture are better than placebo have no supporting data. Tryptophan was believed to be helpful but later research has shown Tryptophan is essentially useless. There are, as yet, no large cohort studies that have shown that acupuncture is better than placebo at anything, although some studies are suggestive that it may have some uses. Large government sponsored trials in the USA on "alternative medical therapies" have shown that acupuncture is the only alternative medicine that may have any use at all, chiro, naturopathy, reflexology and homeopathy (amongst others)have shown no reliable benefits.

As for placebo, well placebo actually does have a benefit, PET scans done on patients on placebo show changes that occur in the brain on placebo treated patients, so there is a benefit that is more than just "in one's head" so to speak.

As far as metaanalyses, they can be frought with problems as they compare substantial numbers of studies that may have different clinical endpoints. They often compare apples and oranges.

Most importantly wrt to this metaanalysis. It compared endpoints at 6 weeks and 6 weeks only, not beyond that. There are few physicians treating mood disorders that would consider that an appropriate endpoint. I tell patients that they shouldn't expect beneficial effects from anti-depressants for at least 2 weeks, but more likely 4-6 weeks, then further improvement may take 2-3 months more.

[Win]

3. This one works.

Once hooked your mind belongs to Wyeth.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?effexor&101

[creeksneakers2]

4. I don't buy it

The placebo effect can't be anything new since pills have been prescribed for mental illness for decades. Its only since the new drugs came out that mass recovery took place. Mental institutions have been emptied.

There must be some equally well run studies out there that show anti-depressants do work.

[cyberpj]

5. NYT - Jan 08 - Researchers Find a Bias Toward Upbeat Findings on Antidepressants

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CEFDA163CF934A25752C0A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

A bias in reporting trial outcomes, but it would still seem they work for most.

[GOPBasher]

6. Antidepressants worked for me, sorry. n/t