article thumbnail

Placebo Effect—Not Antidepressants—Responsible for Depression Improvement

Mad in America

In a study of fluoxetine (Prozac) for adolescents, researchers found that the placebo effect predicted good outcomes, but the actual drug treatment did not. After accounting for “treatment guess” (those who figured out that they were receiving an intervention rather than placebo), the drug was not effective in depression treatment.

article thumbnail

Two Out of Three Find Antidepressant Effects Not Worth Burdens

Mad in America

The study, titled “Estimating the smallest worthwhile difference of antidepressants: a cross-sectional survey,” delves into the challenging decisions faced by individuals considering SSRI and SNRI antidepressants, which are common treatments for depression. Only a third of patients are satisfied with these medications.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

The Summertime Blues: Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Clear Behavioral Health

Talk therapy or even alternative treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could help you get back to enjoying the summertime. If your symptoms don’t seem to be improving, consider a more intensive depression treatment program , like an outpatient or inpatient program for depression at Clear Behavioral Health.

article thumbnail

Stop Using Antidepressants Except for “the Most Severe Depression,” Experts Say

Mad in America

Take, for instance, a recent meta-analysis finding that exercise is just as good as antidepressants at treating mild to moderate depression —and that adding drugs to the regimen does not improve outcomes. Dixon, M., & Marshall-Andrews, M.

article thumbnail

The Relationship Between Alcohol and Depression

Clear Behavioral Health

Depression can be caused by acombination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, and depression treatment often includes therapy, medication, or a combination of both to improve [3]. What Does it Mean to be Clinically Depressed?

article thumbnail

Summing up the STAR*D Scandal: The Public was Betrayed, Millions were Harmed, and the Mainstream Media Failed Us All

Mad in America

American psychiatry has weathered the crisis; it will not have to confront a public stunned by news of how the oft-cited 67% cumulative remission rate, in the largest and longest study ever done to evaluate depression treatment,” was born of scientific misconduct.

article thumbnail

The New York Times Is Now Engulfed in the STAR*D Scandal

Mad in America

This was a story of a great medical advance, and the announced results from the STAR*D trial, heralded by the NIMH as the “largest and longest study ever done to evaluate depression treatment,” fit into that story of medical progress, for it told of 70% of depressed patients becoming “symptom free” after repeated treatments with antidepressants.