Adebayor's started so well for Man City
Do anti-depressants work for you?
I've never had reason to take them, but friends of mine who have certainly felt the benefit. But could it be because of the placebo effect rather than the chemicals in the drugs? A new study today looking at both the published and unpublished data on anti-depressants suggest anti depressants are no better than placebos for most people.
The 'new' study isn't actually new, I got the QI Book of General Ignorance in January and there's the question "Is the answer to depression just to 'walk it off'?".
The answer is: "Yes. It's at least as effective as drugs" and then goes on to explain the studies into this.
Obviously there is not one cure for depression, and given the number of different treatments in my opinion the best option would be to spend the money on providing all of them and training staff to support sufferers rather than just passing off tablets.
These findings about anti-depressants and placebos are not new:
I can quite see what people don't want to believe this, but that is to underestimate the power of a placebo. True recovery from depression, anxiety or any other related illness involves (amongst other things) taking a positive mental approach, and perhaps the placebo effect of anti-depressants - the belief that the medication is going to help them get better - can kick-start this in many people's cases.
I have taken anti depressants and i have had talking therapy on different occasions. I took sertraline and i really did not find they had any affect on my mood at all. The thing i find about medication is that it is not involving the meness of me. With talking therapy the interactiopn between me and the therapist is involving me, i have some degree of control/influence over what is going on for me. With medication i am being taken over by some external chemical and i dont seem to be included.
That statement probably tells you what my stuff is about.
regards alistair
I am at the moment withdrawing from anti-depressants having taken them for almost 20 years.I totally agree with caller who called them sticking plasters.They cover up the real issues allowing you to function but not to really live a full life.
After becoming depressed after my second child (I had suffered in the past and didn't ever seek help) I was fortunate to have a fantastic health visitor who came out to see me within hours of contacting her and talked through, sympathetically, the options available. I didn't want to take medication and took the opportunity to have several sessions with a psychologist available through my doctors practice which helped me get through a very dark period. Sadly that option is no longer available and I strongly believe that money needs to be invested in specialists in this area as more and more people seem to be suffering with psychiatric problems. Whilst some people may benefit from medication most could be helped using alternative therapies.
Finally, after a morning of talk: two people who can put the research into context. I really wish that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ would do their research before running a programme.
But then, where would we be without uniformed people blathering on for two hours befor getting the real story? Radio 4? Nah, 'cause then we have to sit through tedious plays...
My anti-depressant is a cup of tea and a nice book or a walk in the park hearing the birds chirping. I have never taken anti-depressant tablet in my life.
Anti-depressants do have an effect just not always the one you want.
It is not normal for people to laugh all the time just as it is not normal to cry all the time.
Dr.s GP's psychiatrists push drugs such as cipramil, diazepam and prozac with relish.
You try and just say no.
It is cheaper than cognitive therapy. Each Dr.thinks they are on a mission to save the constantly failing nhs. It is worse on the mental side of things.
Some people don't have close families or a confidante. Some just need more help with coping technics in times of adversity.
UK does not use MRI to diagnose depression as they do in other countries as well as urine and blood tests to determine each individual's depressive cycle. It may not be curable but, life can be made a lot easier for sufferers. The way it is at the moment it's a joke no one in the nhs cares who lives or who dies. So much so that even when a depressee takes own life as a result of depression they call the cause of death: misadventure. Instead of telling it how it is. People do not get enough help, support or care on time.