Posted by West on November 10, 2008, at 8:09:10
In reply to Re: I better leave before I mess up the study, posted by Questionmark on November 9, 2008, at 22:17:31
"The side effects (including those subtle psychological & behavioral), personality changes, withdrawal, long-term neurophysiological and receptor changes-- these are all serious, significant, and highly underestimated risks and trade-offs that accompany the use of a psychiatric drug."
Research into exactly this area seems to conclude that there are no measurable long-term changes in the brain functions of healthy volunteers taking antidepressants, i do not how long they took them for. Needless to say any changes in the brains of depressed people is welcome since they are out of whack in the first place.
The references to depression being 'toxic' are obviously defined by brain damage identifiable by loss of neurons in the the hippocampus, similar irregularities in the anterior cingulate cortex, oversecretion of cortisol, low BDNF levels and so on.
These factors shape our current understanding.
The brain changes exhibited in those suffering episodic depression do not differ from those with chronic mood disorders.
Assuming they worked, treating both with antidepressants would have the same desirable net effect of lowering stress, restoring neuroplasticity and lifting depression which is, after all, the result of reversible physical changes.
W
poster:West
thread:861557
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081106/msgs/862016.html