Have you seen this article?

chato · Jun 12, 2010, 10:23 AM

thx it was a bit long but I worth the time...

ruffy · Jun 12, 2010, 07:41 PM

Well, being one of those whos brain seems to resist any sort of treatment for bipolar disorder, especially the depression, I have to ride the fence, hoping that these types of articles will keep forcing the powers that be to prove the effectiveness of their products and keep science focused on the subject. No publicity is bad publicity.

Jun 12, 2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Over the long run, however, the medical profession has been manifestly unable to improve recovery outcomes for patients suffering from mental illness.

This review of a book by Richard P. Bentall affirms what I have felt for decades, not enough is known about mental illness to properly treat it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anis-s..._b_347351.html

pachyderm · Jun 13, 2010, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

I have felt for decades, not enough is known about mental illness to properly treat it

That may be true on the average; however, I think that some professionals do know enough about it to treat it successfully. Witness the stories of some here in the Psychotherapy forum.

(JD) · Jun 13, 2010, 01:07 PM

We've known for some time now that antidepressants don't work for everyone. That the drug companies came out and said that a few years ? back is encouraging though. They even said that their drugs--as a whole--only work for about 30% of the population.

It's sad that that's the truth.

And that there is no way of knowing at this point in time for whom they will work!!! And, there's no way of knowing how long any individual should try to find one, or a combination of two that will work for them.

But you still need to jump through the hoops. I just think that medical doctors aka psychiatrists should be more quickly to admit that they might not be working for a patient. I also think they need to advise patients that--while all medications begin working in your body as soon as you begin taking them--they might not be working they way you want them to, or be failing to help at all. (Another fact I think they need to admit more quickly to their patients is that for many patients the medications quit working after they have worked for a bit.)

Regarding placebo effect, I have always told a doctor I don't care if the good result is directly from a medicine or my own mind making me better: as long as I get the desired result!

I believe in mind over matter anyway.

Because you have discovered this information now changes nothing physically with you. Either they work or they don't, or they do and don't or whatever. But your knowing will give you more control as to what and when you try and for how long. It will also help you know that it isn't "you" or your "fault" if a medication doesn't work.

Go figure.

sanityseeker · Jun 14, 2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

....... not enough is known about mental illness to properly treat it.

I couldn't agree more Byz. Very interesting article. While I can appreciate that for some drug treatment can be effective it stills seems pretty circumstancial for most of us.

The science still can't conclusively answer the question of why some of us suffer mental illness let alone know how to effectively treat it.

Easing the suffering and curing the illness are two very different things. I look forward to advancements that take seriously the value of treating the whole person and consider all factors equally rather than the persisting approach of trying to isolate the problems.

ladylazarus · Jul 26, 2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyliner

My plain experience with myself and other loved ones has been that decreased thyroid and/or adrenal function are often contributing factors to depression and other mental-health diagnoses.

Though the few psychiatrists I have come across do not think along these lines, I've had one psychiatrist tell me she has all her patients do a full thyroid function test and a full blood workup prior to prescribing psychiatric meds.

Thing is, most of the time the appropriate thyroid/adrenal testing is not done. The doctors will test TSH, and a few other items, most of which don't tell us the TRUE state of the thyroid and adrenals. (such as t3 uptake t4 and others)

So for the record, Free t3 and Free t4 and TSH and thyroid antibodies will give you a more complete picture of your thyroid function. T3 and t4 are not the same as FREE t3 and FREE t4.

As for adrenal function, a morning blood cortisol level below 15 is a red flag. A more accurate determination of adrenal functioning can be made via a 4x a day salivary cortisol test.

Anemia is another thing to be looked into when depression is present. As well as b12 levels and vitamin d levels.

Based on results, an appropriate course of action can be planned.

Been there, done that. My thyroid meds and adrenal meds work better than any psychiatric drug I have ever tried. And this time around, thankfully, no side effects.

And I won't say the endocrinology profession doesn't have its faults. I've had to work hard at getting appropriate treatment, after being denied it for long enough. Thank God for internet, where I was able to do hours of research so that I had the knowledge with which to advocate for my health care.

For those who are on AD's and other medications to help manage their symptoms, if it is helping you cope good for you; do whatever it takes to help you cope with life. I am not dismissing the judicious use of psychiatric medications. You may still benefit from a good thyroid/adrenal workup so that just in case those are not working at optimal level you can address that as well.

I have to thank you for this post. When in the hospital for a psychosis the doctor found a problem with my thyroid levels in the blood work and wrote me a script to get a full workup done. Unfortunately I have been in a deep depression since I left the hospital and haven't followed up with this. After reading this I was reminded that I need to go do that . Thanks!

Rhiannonsmoon · Jul 26, 2010, 03:49 AM

Interesting thread. I've tried a lot of meds and no doubt some of those I've tried had very bad effects on me, and others no effect. But some of them have been really good but I've had to go off because I was allergic to them.

But the one I'm on at the moment has done quite well. It doesn't however make me immune to the inevitable crash that I have every now and again (in one at the moment). Some times I just go down like a lead balloon and I have to ride it out, just as so many others do.

But I honestly think that without meds I would not be here and that is simple fact. The last med I was on almost made me leave the planet. I begged the psych to take me off it...I was pput onto cymbalta and I've been much better from about 6 or 7 weeks after starting that...

So no matter what the "experts" say, it is their own opinion. Whereas my comment is based in what I have experienced...so to each their own...

Rhiannon

Sooles · Jul 26, 2010, 12:57 PM

well i am only part way through the article but just the title alone upset me. antidepressants are no better than placebos?

then why did the many different antidepressants i have been on, before i finally found one that works for me, not work? shouldnt they have had a placebo affect?

Jul 27, 2010, 08:40 AM

Rhiannonsmoon, I too doubt I would be here. Having said that, I am very cynical about treatment. I have tried more than two dozen medications, have been in therapy with 17 different professionals (VA revolving door therapy brought the number up) and have been told more than once I will be out of the malaise shortly.

Now I am told I have treatment resistant depression and a personality not conducive to therapy. My body now has a tolerance for the meds I do take. My current psychiatrist tells me I should try getting off of all meds.

The worst part of all this has been the implication that I am to blame for not getting better. Frankly, I try to avoid even calling the VA because of having to listen to, "where we put veterans first."

I see I have to work on my attitude again.

perpetuallysad · Jul 27, 2010, 11:19 AM

Yep Byz (you changed your avatar!), it's all your fault. See, we just like having mental problems and guess what? They ARE all in our heads. Now, if I could just figure a way to flush out my head I'd be in good shape.

venusss · Sep 22, 2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perpetuallysad

Yep Byz (you changed your avatar!), it's all your fault. See, we just like having mental problems and guess what? They ARE all in our heads. Now, if I could just figure a way to flush out my head I'd be in good shape.

well, often it IS in your head... sorry to say that.

Sometimes we get stuck in the wrong thinking pattern. And pill is not gonna fix it, only changing our thinking patterns will.

Laurie1041 · Sep 22, 2010, 01:03 PM

The study concerning anti-depressants being no better than placebo was for "mild to moderate" depression. This study did not involve patients with severe or treatment resistant depressions.

Rhiannonsmoon · Sep 22, 2010, 06:07 PM

Errr yes we know that, but ALL depression has its cycle where it goes through slight, moderate, severe, acute, resistant and back again to slight. That is one of the problems with some of the medications; they work well while the cycle is in the slight or moderate cycles and as they progress to severe acute and resistant, medications seem not to be working.

I have just come out of a resistant period and I am starting to feel moderate. I know that within a certain period of time I will go back into severe then so on and the cycle begins again. This is while on medication. The last acute part of the cycle I had my meds doubled and there was only a slight improvement in the depression though I had physical reactions to the increased dosage.

When I was not on meds, or when I was on meds that were not suitable for me I had a very terrible time. I know when I am depressed and not depressed. I know when I can feel a benefit as opposed to sitting in a chair for 4 weeks with tears running down my face and wanting to die because I hurt so much. No one can tell me that isn't real and if they do they have no idea and are callous to any thougts other than their own.

Princess_Obsidian · Sep 23, 2010, 03:10 AM

Greetings,

Thank you so much for sharing!

Have a good one.

feary · Sep 25, 2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowinmi

However, I did read an article that said they are developing a new med that is 10 times better than what we currently have. Supposedly it is in clinical trials.

.

which one?

feary · Sep 25, 2010, 08:10 PM

look at this though.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...lenn-treisman/

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