Posted by SLS on March 3, 2006, at 14:36:12
In reply to Re: Antidepressants don't work except for when the » SLS, posted by Chairman_MAO on March 3, 2006, at 13:31:51
Hi.
> Simply because it is a trivial fact that there are a wide variety of differences among people's psychobiological makeup...
I don't agree that this is a trivial fact. I don't know too many facts that are.
> ...does not rule out the possibility that there are some drugs classified as "antidepressants"
Possibility? Any facts you'd like to offer? Let's name names.
> that do not [usually] elevate mood in any commonly accepted sense of the term,
Perhaps we should define the term "mood" so that there are no common misunderstandings.
> thus betraying the patient's trust.
I think the betrayal lies in the lack of facts offered patients by their physicians. Perhaps it is these physicians whom consider some facts too trivial to burden their patients with, thus fostering urealistic expectations.
> In order for any system of classification to make sense, people must agree on certain fundamental propositions.
Which propositions would you consider appropriate to proclaim?
> If everyone's reality is so subjective
There are commonalities in the perception of depression amongst individuals. Even the ability to interpret facial expressions is skewed in a similar fashion intraindividually. These things are observable and measurable.
> that this center does not hold, then there is no justification for the existence of psychiatry as a discipline.
If you haven't already done so, it might be fruitful for you to expose yourself to NIMH research and speak directly to the researchers there or to those of the major universities - even if only, and especially, as a patient. It is extremely enlightening to come to realize how enlightened *they* are and how progressive is their current research. Perhaps you haven't yet encountered the right doctors or medical institutions to have the same confidence in them that I have. On the other hand, I have met and been treated by some of the worst and unenlightened psychiatrists since my adventure began 30 years ago. It only takes one bad apple to spoil one's taste for an entire species if one allows it to be that way.
> Can't have it both ways, I don't think.
I don't understand what you are saying here. What are the two ways you refer to?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:615349
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060227/msgs/615460.html