Fighting Depression

[Goblin]

Better have been a shitload of honey, garlic, rosemary and other such spices on that piggy after the photo was taken!!!

Dunno but I was far too pissed by the time it was cooked.

How you doing Bren?

[Winston001]

SSRI's are an effective treatment as many double blinded studies of a large groups of patients have proved.

The reason doctors prescribe these types of drug is because people suffering from clinical depression have a chemical inbalance in the brain, and unless you're a qualified doctor or a psycho pharmacologist you don't really have a place to say otherwise.

Agreed.

Just for clarification - in the field of psychology there is a war going on between the believers in pharmaceutical treatment and the Freudians. One side says that drugs such as SSRIs are valid and useful tools to control illnesses. The Freudians on the other hand say the chemicals do not address deep underlying causes of illness.

So - you will find plenty of websites and learned articles rubbishing SSRIs just as you will find a mountain of research supporting their effectiveness. There is no simple answer.

The pills do work. Not always, not for everyone, but for millions of people who have restored brain chemistry and good health, they are a godsend.

Deep deep down in all of our psyches there are things which shape our personalties. In that sense the Freudians are right.

[discotex]

The pills do work. Not always, not for everyone, but for millions of people who have restored brain chemistry and good health, they are a godsend.

Some of the pills work some of the time when prescribed correctly. Many millions more get horrible side effects for no benefit greater than a sugar pill.

The fast growing mountain of evidence proves that and the British national prescribing guidelines recommend against SSRIs except for moderate to severe depression for exactly that reason.

Read this article for example http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7263494.stm

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.

Yes there is *some* benefit for people with *serious* depression (which is why I said if someone is suicidal they're worth it) but for *most* people they do more harm than good.

Psychological treatment on the other hand has a very high success rate. Only problem is that takes more time and effort than popping a pill.

[Winston001]

Some of the pills work some of the time when prescribed correctly. Many millions more get horrible side effects for no benefit greater than a sugar pill.

The fast growing mountain of evidence proves that and the British national prescribing guidelines recommend against SSRIs except for moderate to severe depression for exactly that reason.

Read this article for example http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7263494.stm

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.

Yes there is *some* benefit for people with *serious* depression (which is why I said if someone is suicidal they're worth it) but for *most* people they do more harm than good.

Psychological treatment on the other hand has a very high success rate. Only problem is that takes more time and effort than popping a pill.

Fair enough, there isn't one size fits all. Different SSRIs have different effects and the only way for a GP to find out is have the patient try. I disagree with you on "but for *most* people they do more harm than good" but I'm no expert either.

Ideally we'd all have ready and free access to psychologists and psychiatrists. Unfortunately this medical speciality is not attractive and there are few around. In the absence of such help, SSRIs are often the only answer for moderate or severe depression.

Incidentally, GPs don't always start with an SSRI - they often try simple barbituates to calm a person who may be experiencing a temporary condition.

[vifferman]

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.

Interestingly (or perhaps not), when I was talking about this issue, my GP said that it was anecdotal, and there was no evidence that this was the case.
I said, "As a matter of fact, when I was on Aropax, I thought about suicide a lot! Even if I didn't feel like killing myself, the idea was always there." This is what it's about: ideation. It's a small step from there to going through with it.

Incidentally, GPs don't always start with an SSRI - they often try simple barbituates to calm a person who may be experiencing a temporary condition.

I wish my GP had done that. When I decided I was done with medication, he said he would've liked to prescribe "an old-fashioned anti-depressant". The best he could do was one that would've meant I couldn't eat many of the foods I like. I decided the cost wasn't worth it. He said, "Fair enough; I can understand that."

[Blackshear]

meant I couldn't eat many of the foods I like. I decided the cost wasn't worth it. He said, "Fair enough; I can understand that."

Sounds like a good bloke, fucked if I'm giving up Oreo & milk messes, mint chocolate, V or mango nectar

Out of curiosity, what foods, exactly?