Posted by SLS on July 15, 2000, at 11:03:23
In reply to Re: Stress, Depression role of ADs, posted by ksvt on July 14, 2000, at 21:24:24
> Scott - I agree with alot you say altho I clearly don't have the scientific expertise of you and dj. However, I question the 80% robust remission statistic. Particularly given the great difficulty people seem to have coming up with the right drug or combinations of drugs.
80% does sound high. It seems reasonable to me, though. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on the part of those who offer it. Two things to keep in mind:
1. This 80% is a statistic representing the remission rate for an individual whose doctors employ every drug at their disposal.
2. The population of posters on Psycho-Babble is probably skewed towards cases that have been relatively treatment-resistant or have experienced a recent loss of antidepressant response. Perhaps the remaining 20% makes up 100% of Psycho-Babble. I'm sure that this depiction is an exaggeration, but it helps to demonstrate what may be the constituency of the posting community.
> What do you think it means that these remissions are only temporary even when you're on maintenance medication?
There is more than one reason why an individual might relapse. Certain antidepressant drugs, given their mechanisms of action, may produce their therapeutic effects in a way that allows the brains of some individuals to develop a compensatory response over time, or perhaps foster a depletion of resources. Some people experience medication break-through (not a good thing) as the result of an increase of what I like to call "depressive pressure" or stress. They may be subject to a greater degree of the type of stress that precipitated their depression in the first place. This is why I feel that adjunctive psychotherapy and emotional support are sometimes so important. An alternate perspective appropriate for some people is that medication is an adjunct to psychotherapy.
Hormonal changes, environmental toxins, changes due to aging, infections, development of other diseases, injury, changes in diet, intense exercise, other medications, changes in geographical location, etc. Who knows what else?
I wish I knew why MY brain is so quick to fight mental health. I will often respond to a medication for three days (consistent pattern) before something occurs to reverse the effect. Are four letter words appropriate in the forum?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:40133
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40530.html