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Re: Inductive versus Deductive Reasoning

Posted by bulldog2 on March 30, 2008, at 10:49:55

In reply to Inductive versus Deductive Reasoning, posted by SLS on March 30, 2008, at 6:49:34

> Shall we use inductive reasoning rather than deductive reasoning when seeking a treatment for mental illness?
>
> 1) Inductive = detailed facts -> general principles (empirical observation)
>
> 2) Deductive = general -> specific (cause and effect)
>
> I favor inductive reasoning. The precise clinical reactions to a series of drug trials can be observed. One can then make a statement as to the statistical rate of success using associations. Out of 100 cases of melancholia, if 65% respond to imipramine and 25% to fluoxetine, one may infer and generalize that imipramine is more effective than fluoxetine in treating this subtype of depression. However, if one takes all of the physiological information that neuroscience has gathered to apply deductive reasoning, one is probably less apt to guess right and predict the effects of a specific treatment for each patient. There are still too many unknown variables to be elucidated.
>
> As the mountains of information gleaned from the study of the brain begin to be assembled properly, deduction may one day supplant induction as the way a clinician approaches treatment.
>
> We here at Psycho-Babble might be doing ourselves harm by assuming we understand enough about the brain and pharmacology to choose drugs for each other. Arrogance plus ignorance can be a lethal combination.
>
>
> - Scott
>

I think the greater the efficacy of the inductive study one still has more ammo to make a statiscally accurate prognosis as to how one may react to a particular drug.

However babble is becoming flawed because of a couple problems.

1. People start a thread on a particular drug trial and if we're lucky another few ppl add their experiences.
2. They post for a week or two, quit the drug or stop posting. We know that ad's require 6-8 at a therapuetic dosage to evaluate the drug.
3. So for some people the thread becomes their inductive study as to how they think they may respond to a particular drug. However the thread is highly flawed as a study. To few people have posted and have not posted long enough to draw a meaningful conclusion.
4. We have the start of several promising threads where People posted on some promising combo and disappear after a few posts.I know people are busy but a few seconds out of your day to update others would be nice.
5.Scott I guess you remember andrewb and others who were committed to time on this board.
6. If one person comes in and posts I vomited on this drug you can't deduce the drug will make you vomit.
7. Also if one person comes in and posts I'm cured after a week on this drug you can't deduce that drug will be a miracle for you.

 

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poster:bulldog2 thread:820639
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080330/msgs/820658.html