5 ms·

Regardless of whether anti-depressants are effectual, overprescribed, or totally useless: I think it's amazing that an article arguing the merits of a pharmaceu

Regardless of whether anti-depressants are effectual, overprescribed, or totally useless: I think it's amazing that an article arguing the merits of a pharmaceutical treatment can be published without reference to any research. >But that, of course, doesn't mean that antidepressants are dummy pills that have no real effect; and it's crucial that depressives--many of whom are suspicious of medication--realize that. I think the author subscribes to an outmoded view of the placebo effect and doesn't acknowledge the mind's remarkable capacity to trigger real physical changes in the body. Antidepressants can be 'dummy pills' and still have a real effect.

DanBC2 14y ago
You state the importance of research, and then fail to mention any. Placebo effect is not straightforward. Here's good quality research suggesting that it's not as powerful as you suggest. (http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003974/placebo-interventions-for-all-clinical-conditions http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003974/placebo-interventions...)
ImprovedSilence 14y ago
I don't know for sure one way or the other, but I've seen too many of my friends mix anti-depressants and alcohol to think that these pills are placebos that don't have any real affect besides in your mind.
- throwaway_ad 14y ago
  What? You realize anti-depressants like SSRIs modify your brain's chemistry and can take 6-8 weeks before you'll notice any effects. I was staying over at a friend's house and had some drinks (2 beers + 2 screwdrivers), and at the time was on SSRIs for about 4 months. My alcohol tolerance is fairly average and expected a light buzz. Instead I ended up wasted for the first time since college days. In my scenario, anti-depressants definitely amplified alcohol's effects. Regardless of what you think, it's been clinically proven. That's why the drug's label has a warning about alcohol intake.
  - ImprovedSilence 14y ago
    I think you misread my sentence. You are agreeing with me.
- iskander 14y ago
  They definitely have a physical effect, but does that effect 'treat' depression any better than, say, atropine? (http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/antidepressants-vs-active-placebo http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/antidepressants-vs-ac...) The current understanding is that the difference between SSRIs and active placebos is very small. When you take into account how many negative results have gone unpublished, it starts to look plausible that SSRIs have no psychiatric benefit beyond patients knowing 'I took a pill' and 'it has side effects'.

DanBC2 14y ago

You state the importance of research, and then fail to mention any. Placebo effect is not straightforward. Here's good quality research suggesting that it's not as powerful as you suggest. (http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003974/placebo-interventions-for-all-clinical-conditions http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003974/placebo-interventions...)

ImprovedSilence 14y ago

I don't know for sure one way or the other, but I've seen too many of my friends mix anti-depressants and alcohol to think that these pills are placebos that don't have any real affect besides in your mind.

throwaway_ad 14y ago
What? You realize anti-depressants like SSRIs modify your brain's chemistry and can take 6-8 weeks before you'll notice any effects. I was staying over at a friend's house and had some drinks (2 beers + 2 screwdrivers), and at the time was on SSRIs for about 4 months. My alcohol tolerance is fairly average and expected a light buzz. Instead I ended up wasted for the first time since college days. In my scenario, anti-depressants definitely amplified alcohol's effects. Regardless of what you think, it's been clinically proven. That's why the drug's label has a warning about alcohol intake.
- ImprovedSilence 14y ago
  I think you misread my sentence. You are agreeing with me.
iskander 14y ago
They definitely have a physical effect, but does that effect 'treat' depression any better than, say, atropine? (http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/antidepressants-vs-active-placebo http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/antidepressants-vs-ac...) The current understanding is that the difference between SSRIs and active placebos is very small. When you take into account how many negative results have gone unpublished, it starts to look plausible that SSRIs have no psychiatric benefit beyond patients knowing 'I took a pill' and 'it has side effects'.