Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2007, at 14:08:20
In reply to Re: Depression is unfortunate brain chemistry, posted by Iansf on June 7, 2007, at 13:49:55
>I don't see why it's a logical fallacy to equate >feeling better with taking the drug if indeed >you do feel better after taking the drug and >feel worse when not taking it, particularly if >this happens consistently.
The best one can conclude is that the drug *may* have been responsable.
>How else can you measure the effectiveness of an >antidepressant except by observing your mood >before and after taking it?
Well, improved mood after placebo would look very much like the placebo was responsable until you find out it was placebo.
>If taking a particular med consistently >coincides with lessening or elimination of >depression and not taking that med does not >consistently coincide with lessening or >elimination of depression, then it's indeed >logical to equate the taking of the med with the >termination of depression.Its not logical. Especially since when it comes to depression, the placebo is statistically as/more effective than an active drug! By your logic, we have proven that placebo's work, which they don't. (it is the mind that is working).
So long as the patient knows he or she going to begin taking a drug, there is no way to know the degree of placebo effect that will follow.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:761153
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070604/msgs/761647.html