Posted by linkadge on April 9, 2006, at 19:45:56
In reply to Re: Drugs versus Psychotherapy - Backlash?, posted by Caedmon on April 9, 2006, at 15:25:52
I guess the connection is that, like with mood disorders, drugs for Parkinson's don't really attack the underlying disease. They may be kickstarting a poorly working system. So if there is such thing as progressive dopaminergic degeneration, why could this not exist with other neurotransmiiter systems. Maybe chronic depression is actually due to progressive dammage to the serotonergic system. (Now I know nothing like that has been proven, but its possible)
There is some evidence that certain treatments for neurological disorders can actually worsen certain of the detectable underlying abnormalities. Ie, Dopa for Parkinsons, Haldol in Schizophrenia.
We are discovering things about the drugs now that we didn't know before. For instance, the TCA's have been avilable for a while, but only recently have warnings been put forward regarding possible exacerbation of suicidality in certain populations.
People just assume that if it has been around long enough that it is safe. Hopefully new technology can verify our assumptions, but perhaps they will verify our fears?
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:629584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060408/msgs/631124.html