The Controversial Placebo Effect of Antidepressants

post from Kmareka.com on 22 May 2012 01:00:17 PM. © Kmareka.com

The article linked below captures many facets of the complicated beast known as psychiatry under the influence of corporate pressure from Big Pharma. In particular what struck me were the descriptions of how colleagues of Irving Kirsch, whose research exposes that antidepressants on the whole are no more effective than placebo, have been ostracized and dressed down for supporting him.

I could go on for days with shop talk about how as a therapist I approach my clients and their use of pharmaceuticals for mood stabilization. My overall philosophy is to tread cautiously in those waters, and to support patient education and self-leadership. I help clients do what they want to do after they have educated themselves as best they can about all of the relevant issues.

Anyway, for those who can stand to have the curtain torn aside and to look directly at this beast of an issue: Why Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos.