The hype versus the reality of anti depressants

There's a lot of stuff pointing out that double blind studies don't show a difference in treating with anti depressants and no medicine.

But the studies are done on mild to moderate depression, both of which often respond to TLC (tender loving care) and tincture of time.

However, for people with severe depression, the drugs do help.

First of all, population studies in teens show a drop of suicides after docs started using antidepressants for them, and now after the "Black box" warning has gone on these medicines, and fewer pills are given out, the suicide rate is increasing.

Second, these studies weren't in the real world, where HMO's often insist doctors see 35 patients a day, so who has time to talk? Voila, pills please....but a good doc will give the pill, order tests, and do a couple follow up visits. No pill, the patient doesn't feel better...and may not come back.

Third: the anti depressants make you feel 'normal' not "happy", so how do you measure that in a study?

...full rant at BNN


I just got a tape on this.