The Great Antidepressant Debate

By Author: Bishop Chanakira
Total Articles: 54
Comment this article

A recent article in the New York Times reporting the outcome of a recent study into the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of depression has created all sorts of debate and conjecture.

The outcome of the study suggested that antidepressants are no better than sugar pills - a placebo - in the treatment of mild and moderate forms of depression; and that the pharmaceutical is only marginally better in the treatment of severe depression. In many respects, this most recent study only further supports previous research which suggests antidepressants are not as effective in the treatment of depression as many health authorities would ask us to believe.

Not too mention the adverse side effects antidepressants can cause, such as nausea, fatigue, weight gain, sleepiness, nervousness, dry mouth and blurred vision. Of most concern, however, is the association of suicide as a side effect in younger populations with the prescription of some antidepressants.

Basically, antidepressants are prescribed because in some quarters of the health community it is believed that a biochemical imbalance is responsible for ...
... an individual's depression. This is despite the fact that there is no test that can measure the amount of neurotransmitters in the living brain, let alone know what the normal level should be. However, pharmaceutical companies and some health professionals alike, continue to state matter of fact that depression is caused by a biochemical imbalance.

It's easy to understand why the big drug companies continue to postulate this biochemical imbalance theory of depression, since in 2009 alone there were almost $10 billion dollars worth of antidepressants sales made in the USA. Worryingly however, depression and the incidence of suicide continues to rise, further exacerbated by the recent global financial crisis, with depression expected to become the second biggest health problem in the developed world by 2020.

Also of concern, is that the fact that less than 25% of people struggling with depression actually seek professional help - irrespective of whether it is in the form of antidepressants or talk therapy or both. This in itself should suggest to the relevant health authorities that perhaps there's a little more to the problem of depression than meets the eye. In other words, simply suggesting that it's due to genetics or a biochemical imbalance is doing the public at large a great disservice.

Perhaps if people really bought that line of argument then there would be queues all the way back to Broadway, in people lining up to receive their packet of little white pills. Just as in the past, when public health authorities administered a newly discovered vaccination, as to prevent some type of lethal disease or ailment.

The reality is, depression is a complex disorder which requires a much greater public scrutiny and debate, as it appears obvious based upon the results of many research studies and the comments of esteemed health professionals, that an individual's depression cannot be simply treated as a physiological manifestation. Ask the person who has just lost their job, experienced the death of a loved one or broken up with their partner what was the cause of their depression. To simply diagnose their depression as a consequence of a serotonin imbalance is a long bow to draw.

Just as the recent New York Times article created much public and professional debate, developed nations need to continue to vigorously ask the tough questions surrounding the various suggested causes and treatments of depression, since based on research studies and statistics alone, it is obvious that we are on the losing side of the ledger in the public health battle with depression.

In conclusion, to further highlight this point, consider the recent study that demonstrated that the incidence of depression is five times higher amongst present day college students, as compared with students of the 1930's Great Depression era. When you stop to consider the living conditions and potential future of those past students - now our great, great grandparents - it's difficult to believe that we really have anything consequential to get us down or upset. But we do, as we're human beings, and we need to more closely examine the epidemic problem of depression.
Depression is a serious condition that effects millions of people around the world. Follow these links to learn how to receive effective depression help.