Posted by SLS on July 19, 2005, at 15:56:19
In reply to Re: SSRIs worsening Social Phobia?, posted by SLS on July 19, 2005, at 10:14:09
I wish I could come up with stronger citations than this, but this is a good start to begin to understand the problems with using placebo controls in studies involving depression.
http://www.srmhp.org/0201/media-watch.html
Notice that it takes into consideration the literature and authors that are cited in the link you provided. Unfortunately, there is not as much interest in elucidating the placebo effect in depression studies as might be desired. Know, however, that those people claiming improvement in the placebo arm of a study demonstrate different brain activity than is evidenced by those who respond to either medication or psychotherapy. In addition, this placebo response tends to disappear at approximately week 10 when subjects are studied longitudinally. Many of these people ask to be placed on the active compound once they learn they were given placebo.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:529220
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050718/msgs/530163.html