Comments for The Psychology Lounge (tm)

Comment on New Study Shows Antidepressant Medication Fails to Help Most Depressed Patients by Andrew Gottlieb, Ph.D.

Andrew Gottlieb, Ph.D. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:19:33 +0000

Thanks for your comment.

It’s not really old news, although I do like the Casablanca reference. The important take-away message is that anti-depressants probably DO work, but only on the most depressed patients. Given the side-effects of these medicines, we should reserve them for the most severely depressed patients, and using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for less severe cases of depression, at least as the first course of treatment.

Andrew

Comment on New Study Shows Antidepressant Medication Fails to Help Most Depressed Patients by jeffrey dach md

jeffrey dach md — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:52:26 +0000

SSRI Antidepressants No Better Than Placebo Says JAMA

A study just published in JAMA Jan 5, reported that SSRI antidepressants are no better than placebo for most cases of depression. The authors reviewed 30 years of data and concluded that “the benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo may be minimal or nonexistent in patients with mild or moderate symptoms”.

Of course, this is old news, and reminds me of the famous scene in 1942 film, Casablanca, where Captain Louis Renault declares, ” I am Shocked, Shocked … to find gambling here….Here is your winnings… Oh thank you.”

For More:
http://jeffreydach.com/2010/01/21/jama-says-ssri-antidepressants-are-placebos-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

Comment on Why do Most Psychologists Ignore Science Based Therapy? Evidence Based Psychotherapy and the Failure of Practicioners by Linda Chapman

Linda Chapman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:57:28 +0000

One element of this discussion to consider is that psychotherapists are frequently clients themselves, or may have been in the past. Perhaps their own experiences as consumers colors their choices of treatment methodologies more than has been given credit. For example, my own experience as a participant in “energy psychology” methodologies has given me a positive perspective on their uses. Interestingly, while there are studies about energy psychology which suggest positive outcomes — recently the American Psychological Association issued a decision to decline including Energy Psychology as a recognized field for continuing education.

Comment on New Study Shows Antidepressant Medication Fails to Help Most Depressed Patients by Andrew Gottlieb, Ph.D.

Andrew Gottlieb, Ph.D. — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:01:24 +0000

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your comment. Let me reply to them in order to clarify some points.

First of all, even though there is a lot of research suggesting that antidepressants do not reliably outperform placebos, for individual patients antidepressants may work well. My own clinical experience suggests that about 1/3 of depressed patients have a good response to antidepressants, 1/3 have a weak response, and the last 1/3 have little or no response.

If they work for you, then I would encourage you to keep doing what you are doing.

In terms of the the severity variable, the researchers used the scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, with the ranges I mentioned in the article.

The scale is posted here, if you want to take a look at it.

And certainly depression varies a lot, from day to day, but there is an underlying core to it, which I believe is measurable.

Andrew

Comment on New Study Shows Antidepressant Medication Fails to Help Most Depressed Patients by Budd

Budd — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:06:45 +0000

I was prescribed anti-depressants 3 years ago and find them valuable in reducing my symptoms of anxiety and despair. I am also taking beta-blockers to reduce the anxiety side effects of the depression which I have suffered from for an extensive period of time. I find these medications effective and can detect their effectiveness.

I have never heard of a classification of depression based on ‘very, severely or extremely.’ Nor do I know how patients could understand this comparative term, given that one’s own depression is the only one we can experience directly.

Also in my experience, the depression is a variable sensation. A transient or variable mood feeling, not a fixed sensation set at a fixed level. It varies from moment to moment. It can lift like a breath of fresh air and can fall on you like a steel door slamming.

Regards

Ken

Comment on New Study Finds the Best Pharmacological Stop Smoking Solution: (Hint, it’s not what you’d think) by Anon

Anon — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:46:58 +0000

It is one year now since I Stopped Smoking and I don’t think I’ll ever smoke again. My life improved a lot, in new ways I never thought of in connection with quitting smoking. For instance, my life in hotel rooms got better. Before, I used to ask for a smoking room whenever I checked in a hotel. Smoking rooms have a bad smell, regardless the hotel category or cleanliness. Maybe they don’t smell if the hotel is new but this I cannot tell. Many times I had to endure that bad odor, being ashamed to go and ask for another room at the reception. I noticed that improvement from the first time I checked in a hotel as non-smoker and I was impressed of the nice flowery scent of the room.

Comment on New Study Finds the Best Pharmacological Stop Smoking Solution: (Hint, it’s not what you’d think) by Lemuel Lee

Lemuel Lee — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:32:46 +0000

I have difficulty Quitting Smoking. Now, i am trying these Nicotine Patches so that I can Stop Smoking as soon as possible. I hope these nicotine patches works.

Comment on Does Money Buy Happiness? No, And The Answer Of What Does Buy Happiness May Surprise You by Nick

Nick — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:56:15 +0000

Hi, Interesting thoughts! I believe it’s not possible to make a general statement on whether money makes people more or less happy. Money comes with a whole set of new elements that may have good or bad impact on our happiness, and depending on how susceptible we are to every one of them, the conclusion will go one way or the other (i.e. different from person to person). I recently made an effort to provide a more comprehensive picture of what these ad- and disadvantages are. I invite you to have a look at Money and Happiness and tell me what you think! Thank you, Nick

Comment on New Study Finds the Best Pharmacological Stop Smoking Solution: (Hint, it’s not what you’d think) by Dave

Dave — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:07:02 +0000

No one treatment works for everybody. Each individual has to see what works best for themselves. After trying many different treatments I was able to quit smoking with the e-cig and would recommend it to everyone. It’s definitely worth a try.

Comment on Why do Most Psychologists Ignore Science Based Therapy? Evidence Based Psychotherapy and the Failure of Practicioners by Tom Corboy, MFT

Tom Corboy, MFT — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:08:36 +0000

Dr. Gottlieb,

I couldn’t agree with you more, and have written a blog post on the same subject at http://www.ocdla.com/blog/evidence-based-psychotherapy-196. It’s shocking how many psychotherapists have come out against this study.

Tom Corboy, MFT