[sharktrager]

The problem is that this story ignores what most doctors, and patients, have learned. People react differently to different drugs.

Getting someone on the right psychtropic drug is a trial and error process. I know this first hand. I can tell you that effexor, celexa and prozac did nothing for me at all. Wellbutrin, on the other hand, had a dramatic impact.

[Your Nightmare]

Sharktrager, you point out a critical flaw in this study. It is looking at specific medications vs a placebo. And you are correct about the trial and error process. There is no way to tell who will respond to what medication. Trying one at a time is the only way. But across the board we all have the same chance of a placebo response.

What they need to compare is how many people have positive result with any medication vs. placebo. I'm sure the results would be different.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Wellbutrin, on the other hand, had a dramatic impact.

Glad to hear that. Zoloft keeps my pistol out of my mouth.

I think you make a really good point--different people respond very differently to the various actions of the assorted AD's. You almost never get the correct one first time around and may even need to try several 'til you find the effective one for your 'chemistry'.

I think the result of this study is that:

"relying on the first choice of antidepressants, neglecting the patients feedback and an unwillingness to try other antidepressants leads to an outcome only slightly better than a placebo."

[shrinkermd]

"Getting someone on the right psychtropic drug is a trial and error process. I know this first hand. I can tell you that effexor, celexa and prozac did nothing for me at all. Wellbutrin, on the other hand, had a dramatic impact."

Excellent point. If I had my "comments" to do over again I would make point three the willingness to try more than one drug and listen to the patient's self-reports of efficacy or lack thereof.