Posted by FredPotter on February 28, 2006, at 13:50:15
In reply to Re: The Truth Do SSRI's and SSNRI's Work For Anyon, posted by vainamoinen on February 28, 2006, at 12:41:19
Hegelian logic was cited by a previous poster to explain the prescribing of benzos. In their case the stages were (in the States):
(i) THE answer – prescribe for everyone with the mildest worry right through to patients with panic disorder (ironically Xanax seems to work best on extreme symptoms);
(ii) Demonize and try to ban them;
(iii)Use benzos carefully for some clearly defined disordersThe position with SSRIs and SNRIs is at an earlier stage of this process. (i) was and is taking place with a hint that (ii) is beginning to happen. Some drug trials have used a positive placebo (one with side-effects so the patient suspects if s/he's getting the real drug). I gather the SSRIs at least have an even poorer success rate under these conditions.
On the other hand, some further things need to be said. If there is such an illness as clinical depression (and some dispute that there is), a patient's prognosis might be muddied by people presenting with common-or-garden misery or grief, for which SSRIs were not designed and probably not very effective.
A final point is: most depressed people have "atypical" depression, for which SSRIs are not a good choice, MAOIs possibly being a better solution.
Despite the positive placebo remark above, it's possible there would be a more robust AD response tom SSRIs and SNRIs if they were prescribed for the right patients, hence setting stage (iii) in motion.
Any comments?
Fred
poster:FredPotter
thread:613775
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060227/msgs/614302.html