Posted by Anyuser on November 6, 2002, at 13:31:15
In reply to Re: Lexapro 'failed' trial: I get confused, posted by JLM on November 6, 2002, at 3:23:31
That is indeed an interesting read, sort of. Thank you for the link.
Do you believe that "antidepressants work, but just barely better than inert placebos"? I don't. The first time an AD kicked in for me, it was a transforming experience. I haven't been the same since. Ever since I have had a new definition of what it means to be "well." Better than well. Whether ADs work or not is a closed issue for me. The open issue remaining is coping with side effects.
Do you know who these authors are, and where they're coming from? Do a Google on them. Antonuccio and Danton are psychologists, not MDs. Danton is a hypnotist. They are big promoters of CBT, and apparently they are as critical of anxiolytics as they are of antidepressants. The Scientologists love these guys, although I realize guilt by association is unfair.
David Burns is the biggest CBT booster of all, and he is to be taken seriously. He studied under Beck, his self-help books are popular, and he influences the debate from his position at Stanford Med School. Have you read his books? I have. I am sure CBT works for many people. It's not for me. I simply can't get with it. Not at all. Not even in theory.
If you're depressed and starting from scratch, why would you believe these guys over university drug researchers funded by for-profit drug companies? People with more of a political axe to grind than I have would surely have an answer to that question. I just think maybe these guys aren't out to improve the FDA process so much as they want to deride ADs and promote CBT. I just hope family practice MDs don't read this article and prescribe fewer ADs to depressed patients that might benefit from them, however imperfect.
poster:Anyuser
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126687.html