Posted by linkadge on January 20, 2007, at 21:41:45
In reply to My thoughts.... » chiron, posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 20, 2007, at 13:00:50
I think it is very difficult to say when a depression is biochemical or when it is environmental.
As tempting as it is to conclude, a response to an antidepressant unfortunately does not mean that a persons problems were entirely biochemical.
Many of these drugs were discovered, for instance, for their abilities to reverse experiementally induced depression in animals. Ie, depression induced by chronic mild stressors.
These mice had no known genetic susceptability to depression, they just react the same way that all other mice do to unavoible stress, with depression.
I agree it all seems like a nice closed case, untill the drugs poop out.
It also gives a person a better sense of control over their life if they conclude that their depression was biochemical, and not environmental. That way the solution is tangable, managable, and within one's control. That is less than can be said about the chronic mild stressor that is life.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:723718
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070119/msgs/724630.html