Posted by ttee on September 13, 2007, at 9:17:48
In reply to Re: News - Antidepressants Vindicated?))SAM, posted by jhj on September 13, 2007, at 0:47:25
SAM -I understand what you are saying, but I don't think so much "faith" should be left to clinical trail data. It is my understanding that most all the AD clinical trials enroll subjects that are not like (unreal) us, and the majority of those with depression. They exclude people that have ever taken failed an AD, have any other psychiatric diagnosis, or any other common psychical health problems. It is no wonder that in the clinical trials that the placebo does well. The randomized subjects are primed to do well no matter what you do. I would argue that if there was a third arm in many of the studies, that gave no active pill, and no active placebo, lots of these less-ill to begin with patients will do about as well as both the active pill and placebo. In the real world, with patients like us at Babble, who many are much more ill, treatment resistant, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric problems, in addition to other non-psychiatric health problems; I postulate that this class of patients does not experience the placebo effect that is found in the unrealistic patient group from the clinical trial. . Placebo rates are often around 30% or more in depression trials. You can't keep them on placebo forever but usually the response wanes over time. Someone with chronic and refractory depression has a much lower placebo response.
> I have come to conclusion after long thought that pdoctors around the world should provide placebo instead of antidepressants in the best interest of patients.The reason is that all the patients benefiting from ADs are due to faith in the treatment and hence,they would have the same benefits even if they take dummy pill assuming that the pills are actually antidepressants.Not only that they would also be saved from suffering the debilitating side effects of ADs and there would be no increase in suicidal tendancies.So,irrespective of whether patient is child or adult,psychiatrists should not have any problem in misleading person by providing placebo instead of active antidepressants in the benefits of patient.If placebo pill is able to work as well as ADs with out any side effect then,why people should be made suffer from the side effects and increased risk of suicidal tendancies? Thanks.
poster:ttee
thread:781684
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070911/msgs/782628.html