Posted by FredPotter on August 8, 2007, at 19:02:10
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » FredPotter, posted by Quintal on August 8, 2007, at 15:58:10
I have to presume because they don't say, or you don't say. From prior expectations the benzo group would be likely taking them for a mental condition, whereas opiate takers are probably taking it for physical pain or for fun, meaning they're probably mentally healthy. It is perfectly OK (and vaguely Bayesian) to take prior expectations into account. Look at it this way - the abusers had to be "abusing" at the start of the experiment since you can't turn anyone into an abuser merely by making them take a drug. We know opiates aren't dished out very freely for mental conditions. All this means that the mental health at the start of the trial was unevenly distributed among the groups.
Far more likely is a hidden agenda to demonise benzos when for millions of people they are the only thing that works. And all because of some ill-defined psychobabbly thing called "cognitive blunting" or "cognitive" something. I personally wish the word cognitive had never been invented. Anxiety and panic disorder are emergencies. Those who suffer should never be put off by these scare tactics. And certainly not by the flawed study mentioned. Yes benzos don't work well in the long term and aren't really affective against depression
Fred
poster:FredPotter
thread:774284
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070808/msgs/774901.html