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Anti-depressants: Major study finds they work
Scientists say they have settled one of medicine's biggest debates after a huge study found that anti-depressants work. The study, which analysed data from 522 trials involving 116,477 people, found 21 common anti-depressants were all more effective at reducing symptoms of acute depression than dummy pills. But it also showed big differences in how effective each drug is.
The authors of the report, published in the Lancet [open, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32802-7] [DX], said it showed many more people could benefit from the drugs. There were 64.7 million prescriptions for the drugs in England in 2016 - more than double the 31 million in 2006 - but there has been a debate about how effective they are, with some trial[s] suggesting they are no better than placebos. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the study "finally puts to bed the controversy on anti-depressants".
The so-called meta-analysis, which involved unpublished data in addition to the information from the 522 clinical trials involving the short-term treatment of acute depression in adults, found the medications were all more effective than placebos. However, the study found they ranged from being a third more effective than a placebo to more than twice as effective.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 23 2018, @09:55PM (1 child)
the mental act of receiving treatment is healing unto itself, that where placebo derive their power
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 23 2018, @10:04PM
I forgot to ask you to tried that experience: next time you have some piqns, ask someone you trust to give 3 pills, a mix of advil and Tylenol of his choices. next time you have a similar pain do the same thing yourself. chances are that the pills from the trusted person are more effective than the one you choose yourself.