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I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. Anti-depressants are likely not the best solution

by drtse4 15y ago

I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. Anti-depressants are likely not the best solution (not a solution at all?) but some introspection practices (orthodox practices but also meditation) could be and they could provide a definitive solution. See flipside post http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 , kudos to him for being able to solve his issue alone (as anyone would expect it wasn't easy).

Alex3917 15y ago
"I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months." Around 46% of Americans have either depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives, but only around 7% have the problem currently. Seeing as only around 1 / 3 of those affected get treatment, and the treatments most people get aren't super effective, this seems to support my point. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml I mean think about it, if we agree that most people aren't getting treatment, and that most of them don't stay depressed forever, then we agree that depression will eventually resolve on its own. From there it's just a matter of nailing down the exact timeline. How long it takes obviously varies a lot from person to person, but a half life of around six months seems like the typical case.
- bermanoid 15y ago
  ...and the people for whom it doesn't resolve on its own really need to be treated. I live with someone in that situation, and knew her before she was ever medicated, and I can say with near certainty that she would not be alive today were it not for the medications she takes. You're making the same mistake the article makes: serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated.
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    "serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated." I'm not saying people shouldn't seek treatment.
  - niels_olson 15y ago
    We generally grade deoression as mild, moderate, or severe. Some evidence suggests mild-to-moderate depression doesn't respond to anti-depressants. Anti-depressants were originally tested in those with severe depression, which, like other mental illnesses, is much less common.
- drtse4 15y ago
  That "on its own" implies that depression will solve itself even if you don't take any action, simply one day it will disappear, you just need to wait. Not likely in my opinion. These statistics are about the population trend with yearly samples and don't say anything about duration distribution. It would be also interesting to know how many drop treatment, stop seeking medical help or get out of the statistics in different ways, to understand how effectively this problem is being addressed.
niels_olson 15y ago
> doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. > but some introspection practices (orthodox practices but also meditation) could be and they could provide a definitive solution. I think you're arguing two sides of the same coin on this one. What's unnatural about introspection?
- drtse4 15y ago
  Nothing, what i meant was "solved without any outside intervention or determined effort", just that. Poor english.
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    Is there actually any research into how 'determined effort' shapes the course of depression? Measuring such a claim seems very difficult, so I'm curious to see if there has been much meaningful work done in this area.
    - Alex3917 15y ago
      edit: I realized the answer to this question is irrelevant. Nevermind.

by drtse4 15y ago

Alex3917 15y ago

"I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months." Around 46% of Americans have either depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives, but only around 7% have the problem currently. Seeing as only around 1 / 3 of those affected get treatment, and the treatments most people get aren't super effective, this seems to support my point. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml I mean think about it, if we agree that most people aren't getting treatment, and that most of them don't stay depressed forever, then we agree that depression will eventually resolve on its own. From there it's just a matter of nailing down the exact timeline. How long it takes obviously varies a lot from person to person, but a half life of around six months seems like the typical case.

bermanoid 15y ago
...and the people for whom it doesn't resolve on its own really need to be treated. I live with someone in that situation, and knew her before she was ever medicated, and I can say with near certainty that she would not be alive today were it not for the medications she takes. You're making the same mistake the article makes: serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated.
- Alex3917 15y ago
  "serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated." I'm not saying people shouldn't seek treatment.
- niels_olson 15y ago
  We generally grade deoression as mild, moderate, or severe. Some evidence suggests mild-to-moderate depression doesn't respond to anti-depressants. Anti-depressants were originally tested in those with severe depression, which, like other mental illnesses, is much less common.
drtse4 15y ago
That "on its own" implies that depression will solve itself even if you don't take any action, simply one day it will disappear, you just need to wait. Not likely in my opinion. These statistics are about the population trend with yearly samples and don't say anything about duration distribution. It would be also interesting to know how many drop treatment, stop seeking medical help or get out of the statistics in different ways, to understand how effectively this problem is being addressed.

niels_olson 15y ago

> doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. > but some introspection practices (orthodox practices but also meditation) could be and they could provide a definitive solution. I think you're arguing two sides of the same coin on this one. What's unnatural about introspection?

drtse4 15y ago
Nothing, what i meant was "solved without any outside intervention or determined effort", just that. Poor english.
- Alex3917 15y ago
  Is there actually any research into how 'determined effort' shapes the course of depression? Measuring such a claim seems very difficult, so I'm curious to see if there has been much meaningful work done in this area.
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    edit: I realized the answer to this question is irrelevant. Nevermind.