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Two Out of Three Find Antidepressant Effects Not Worth Burdens

Mad in America

The study, titled “Estimating the smallest worthwhile difference of antidepressants: a cross-sectional survey,” delves into the challenging decisions faced by individuals considering SSRI and SNRI antidepressants, which are common treatments for depression. Only a third of patients are satisfied with these medications.

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Irish Psychiatry Says Chemical Imbalance Is a Figure of Speech—So, What Now?

Mad in America

Any wonder, when for decades, people have been deluged with information suggesting that depression is caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain—specifically, low levels of serotonin. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on depression treatment are clear: “Antidepressant medications are not needed for mild depression.”

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Placebo Effect—Not Antidepressants—Responsible for Depression Improvement

Mad in America

In a study of fluoxetine (Prozac) for adolescents, researchers found that the placebo effect predicted good outcomes, but the actual drug treatment did not. After accounting for “treatment guess” (those who figured out that they were receiving an intervention rather than placebo), the drug was not effective in depression treatment.

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The New York Times Is Now Engulfed in the STAR*D Scandal

Mad in America

And then it informed its readers the following: “The largest study of multiple antidepressants—nicknamed the STAR*D trial—found that half of the participants had improved after using either the first or second medication that they tried, and nearly 70 percent of people had become symptom-free by the fourth antidepressant.”

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Mad in America’s 10 Most Popular Articles in 2024

Mad in America

The findings reinforce the view that addressing the high prevalence rates of depression via symptom recognition and treatment with antidepressants is unlikely to be effective. The absolute long-term efficacy of antidepressants in real-world settings is disappointingly modest.

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Summing up the STAR*D Scandal: The Public was Betrayed, Millions were Harmed, and the Mainstream Media Failed Us All

Mad in America

American psychiatry has weathered the crisis; it will not have to confront a public stunned by news of how the oft-cited 67% cumulative remission rate, in the largest and longest study ever done to evaluate depression treatment,” was born of scientific misconduct. This strategy immediately paid dividends for Eli Lilly.

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Winding Back the Clock: What If the STAR*D Investigators Had Told the Truth?

Mad in America

The NIMH ran advertisements in the media, and Eli Lilly helped pay for the printing and distribution of 8 million DART brochures titled “Depression: What You Need to Know.” This pamphlet informed readers of the particular merits of “serotonergic” drugs for the disease. “By Rush was named the lead investigator of the $35 million effort.