Posted by SLS on September 20, 2009, at 6:47:00
In reply to Re: Going back to old-school - lithium., posted by desolationrower on September 20, 2009, at 0:15:28
Hi.
> transient responses are sort of the classic placebo response.
I wish I were the classic patient. When I did come in to see the doctor while feeling these brief improvements, there would be no doubt in their minds that I indeed had a biological affective disorder. The difference was so dramatic. Only did Columbia in 1983 "throw me out" because they thought I was a placebo responder. They hadn't noticed that I was an ultra-rapid cycler when I was first treated by them. They thought that these were emotional highs and lows. They wanted me to see a psychologist instead. I said no. I left, but not before requesting that they put me on bupropion, which had not come out yet. They laughed when I came to them with my own dopaminergic theory of depression. I told them that they should at least try bromocriptine on me. Again, they laughed.
I have never had a problem with psychotherapy, as long as it was made clear that I needed somatic treatments as well. I had had quite a bit of psychotherapy before being diagnosed with affective disorder. It, of course, didn't help with depression. I am currently being treated psychotherapeutically. I am grateful to find a therapist who works closely with a psychopharmacologist. It is understood that the priority to treat the depression must be biological since is a biological disorder that I suffer from. I took advantage of the offer for psychotherapy because I wanted to deal with an unhealthy past, have coping tools to live and function while depressed, and to sweep up the psychological mess that the depression produced.
I had been a member at a mental health clinic day program to add structure to my days. However, after 8 years, I felt it was time for me to leave. Taking a few classes at a community college was good for me. Again, it provided structure. At this point, I am working towards seeking employment. Of course, this will be orders of magnitude easier if my improvement to the addition of lithium grows. At the moment, I expect that it will. Of course, I have been wrong countless times before. Stupid optimism.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:904699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090912/msgs/917768.html