Why anti-depressants don't work

By Carla Bevan  on Tuesday 26 February 2008

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Today's anti-depressants are of little clinical benefit, according to scientists at the University of Hull.



The researchers claim prescription drugs help only a small number of severely depressed individuals, although the makers of Prozac and Seroxat, unsurprisingly, are disputing the claims.



'There seems little reason to prescribe anti-depressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients,' professor Irving Kirsch from the University of Hull said after reviewing data from 47 different clinical trials.



'The difference in improvement between patients taking placebos and patients taking anti-depressants is not very great.



'This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments.'



The number of people taking anti-depressants hit an all-time high in 2006, with more than 31 million prescriptions written in England alone.



A spokeswoman for the charity Sane says they find the new research extremely worrying.



'The newer anti-depressants were the great hope for the future... These findings could remove what has been seen as a vital choice for thousands in treating what can be a life-threatening condition.



'If these results were upheld in further studies, they would be very disturbing.'



Have you ever taken medication to treat depression? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below…

Tuesday 26 February 2008

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My husband started taking anti depressants in February last year. He had depression for some while I believe. He drank heavily on medication and it there has been a drastic change in his personality. He shows hostility and anger and our 23 year marriage and two children, resulted in our separating.He had a long career of 36 years in the same organisation which has also resulted in him being paid out on invalidity, he believes he is unable to function within the workplace.

Anti Depressants have ruined my marriage. They can also have a lot of side effects. Natural remedies, exercise and communication --talk therapy can improve mental well being. Not anti depressants...its ruined my life


Comment by Kim on February 28 02:11

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