Have we already talked about

thesuninherhead

the lack of efficacy for antidepressants in mild to moderate cases of depression, as reported in the recent meta-analysis article published in the JAMA?

The conclusions in the article abstract state:
"The magnitude of benefit of antidepressantmedication compared with placebo increases with severity ofdepression symptoms and may be minimal or nonexistent, on average,in patients with mild or moderate symptoms. For patients withvery severe depression, the benefit of medications over placebois substantial. "

So basically, in cases of depression that aren't severe, taking a placebo (sugar) pill is just as effective as taking an anti-depressant (not because sugar helps- but because the anti-d's aren't effective for mild to moderate depression).

What do you think? I know there's a lot of you out there on anti-d's, and I wonder what your thoughts are. These findings are obviously far from new (eg. this is a analysis of almost twenty years of research findings, thus many studies have reported similar things), but I know that at least over here, anti depressant medication is prescribed very easily and not just reserved for severe cases of depression despite the fact that there's no evidence to support their use in those cases.

audmaat

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_already-talked?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:89e89169-f23a-446c-a6aa-2d1a9b7bc793Post:7c861a9e-a9f6-4086-9247-d1f43bb53487">Re: Have we already talked about</a>:
[QUOTE]Also- as you prob know all these meds given out change the chemical balances in the brain. well, did you know that there is NO test to check for chemical imbalances. none at all.
Posted by kkchisholm[/QUOTE]

<div>So how do you know they change the chemical balance in the brain if there's NO test, none at all?</div>

Nebb

I know it sounds cruel but I think depression is in some cases all in your head, so it wouldnt surprise me that thinking youre taking a pill to fix it would make you better. I think people are so far gone from  understanding how their bodies work that no one tries to employ other means to fix themselves, and pop a pill instead. We are lazy people (our society).

beatlesgirl25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_already-talked?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:89e89169-f23a-446c-a6aa-2d1a9b7bc793Post:9b9bbef4-a171-48bb-bb9e-c5f15a6b7a1a">Re: Have we already talked about</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Have we already talked about : So how do you know they change the chemical balance in the brain if there's NO test, none at all?
Posted by audmaat[/QUOTE]

Psychotropic drugs have a specific neurochemical function in the brain, like recreational drugs or alcohol. So basically it will change/alter your brain chemistry in one way or another. I think what kk was trying to say is that there's no way to know if the drugs are balancing anything out or creating a further imbalance, since you don't know what your chemical status was in the first place. (Correct me if I'm wrong, kk).

I wish there were more tests available, but fMRI and PET scans can be helpful. Usually it's based on self-report and emotional/behavioral symptoms, so you can see how prescribing can get out of hand with practitioners when it's so subjective.

Sun, great thread. Though I'm surprised you've made it this far without psichick popping in to lecture you on the true definition of antidepressants or something.

thesuninherhead

I think psi chick may realise that I'm actually slightly more qualified than her (or, if not that- that I can string my sentences together in a relevant way that seems to be easier for most people to follow!)... but, now I've thrown that out there, I'll wait and see if she bites.

thesuninherhead

and beatles, I'm actually sort of sad that more people who are on anti-d's didn't enter/respond to this thread... because from reading previous threads asking for advice on taking such medication, it's fairly obvious that a large portion of those here either have been or are still on those medications, and I presume that not all of them have been diagnosed as experiencing severe depression.

betrothed123

I just saw this thread, and I wanted to respond as someone who was diagnosed with a mild form of depression.

I was diagnosed when I was in high school, and was seeing a psychologist who was all about medication.  She put me on one anti-depressant, when that didn't work after a month,. she changed my prescription, and the cycle continued.

After a few years I stopped seeing her and took myself off of every med she had ever put me on.  The meds never did anything for me and I felt so much better when I came off of them.

There are times when my depression isn't under control, but I'd still rather have those times than be on the meds, feel just as bad emotionally, but feel even worse physically.

In short, I agree with the article.