STUDY: ANTI-DEPRESSANTS DON'T WORK

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INDEPENDENT, UK - They are among the biggest-selling drugs of all time,
the "happiness pills" that supposedly lift the moods of those who suffer
. . . But one of the largest studies of modern antidepressant drugs has
found that they have no clinically significant effect. . .

The finding will send shock waves through the medical profession and
patients and raises serious questions about the regulation of the
multinational pharmaceutical industry, which was accused of withholding
data on the drugs.

It also came as Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, announced that 3,600
therapists are to be trained during the next three years to provide
nationwide access through the GP service to "talking treatments" for
depression, instead of drugs, in a L170m scheme. . .

In the study, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all 47 clinical
trials, published and unpublished, submitted to the Food and Drug
Administration in the US, made in support of licensing applications for
six of the best known antidepressant drugs, including Prozac, Seroxat
– which is made by GlaxoSmithKline – and Efexor made by Wyeth. The
results showed the drugs were effective only in a very small group of
the most extremely depressed.

Professor Irving Kirsch of the University of Hull, who led the study
published in the online journal Public Library of Science Medicine, said
. . . "Given these results, there seems to be little reason to prescribe
antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed
patients, unless alternative treatments have failed to provide a
benefit. This study raises serious issues that need to be addressed
surrounding drug licensing and how drug trial data is reported.". . .

Alternative treatments for depression, such as counseling or physical
exercise , should be tried first, Professor Kirsch said. . .

On the new training for therapists, Mr Johnson said the program signaled
a decisive shift away from drugs in favor of non-drug treatments for
depression. "We are not taking the decision away from clinicians," he
said.

"For many, medication is successful. But talking therapies can have
dramatic effects. We have put a lot of emphasis on medication in the
past and it is about time we redressed the balance and put more emphasis
on talking treatments."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/
health-news/antidepressant-drugs-udontu-work-ndash-official-study-787264.html


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