
oneday
Well-known member
Interesting article in the latest edition of American magazine Newsweek (8th Feb 2010). It's headlined "The depressing news about antidepressants" with subtitle "Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse." (http://www.newsweek.com/id/232781)
The article is followed by a one page editorial article by a psychiatrist who disagrees with the research findings outlined in the main article.
Is this depressing news? If so, who for? I think the importance of 'placebo' - of the faith, the belief in, the attachment to psychiatric drugs (by both professionals and service users) may be the most important element in how most psychiatric drug treatments 'work' (if work they can be said to do).
Medications have been described elsewhere as the "holy water of psychiatry" (Openmind 82, Mind 1996, Holmes & Newnes).
Discuss?
Oneday
The article is followed by a one page editorial article by a psychiatrist who disagrees with the research findings outlined in the main article.
Is this depressing news? If so, who for? I think the importance of 'placebo' - of the faith, the belief in, the attachment to psychiatric drugs (by both professionals and service users) may be the most important element in how most psychiatric drug treatments 'work' (if work they can be said to do).
Medications have been described elsewhere as the "holy water of psychiatry" (Openmind 82, Mind 1996, Holmes & Newnes).
Discuss?
Oneday