The Wrong Story About Depression

[HuckleB]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/opinion/09warner.html?em

"In all the excitement about “startling” news and “sugar pills,” a more nuanced and truer story about mental health care in America was all but lost.

That story begins to take shape when you consider what the new study actually said: Antidepressants do work for very severely depressed people, as well as for those whose mild depression is chronic. However, the researchers found, the pills don’t work for people who aren’t really depressed — people with short-term, minor depression whose problems tend to get better on their own. For many of them, it’s often been observed, merely participating in a drug trial (with its accompanying conversation, education and emphasis on self-care) can be anti-depressant enough.

None of this comes as news to people who have been prescribing or studying antidepressants over the past 20 years. Neither is it all that likely to change the practice of treating depression — at least as it’s carried out by responsible doctors.

...

Inadequate treatment by nonspecialists is only a piece of the problem. In fact, most Americans with depression, rather than being overmedicated, are undertreated or not treated at all. This might have been big news this week, too, had anyone noticed another academic study, a survey of nearly 16,000 people published this month in The Archives of General Psychiatry, which looked more broadly at the picture of depression in America. The survey found that those who did get care were given psychotherapy more often than drugs. That finding might give heart to those who would prefer to see more alternatives to psychiatric drugs — if it weren’t for the fact that so much psychotherapy is so bad.

..."

------------------------------------------


Once again, the media ignores the real story in order to push the emotionally charged tabloid headline.

[ixion]

1. my theory about the rampant depression over-taking our society

is that it's because we've stopped allowing ourselves to be human beings -- to be the mammals that we are.

We are simply not designed to function as corporate drones. We're not designed to be flawless, and we're most certainly not designed to live in a one-lifestyle-fits-all world. We're capable of adapting to such an environment, but there are side effects. Depression is one of those side effects.

Once we start allowing ourselves to live as the flawed creatures that we are, once we face up to the fact that we're not designed to spend our lives in cubicles and/or compartments of varying shades, then made we can actually start doing something about turning the tide on depression.

Medicating relives only the symptoms, not the problem.

[LiberalEsto]

2. I agree

"We are simply not designed to function as corporate drones"

We face so many responsibilities, rules and expectations every day in order to function as members of our society, with little or no government, community or family support. It's exhausting and overwhelming.

[busymom]

4. Honestly, I don't believe that depression is a side effect...

I think depression is a completely normal response to stressful stimuli and that it serves an evolutionary purpose. Just like we have an aversion to the bitter taste of some poisons, I think depression is the body's way of saying "stop. something is not right here." I truly believe that one of the reasons that as a society we are experiencing so much more depression and anxiety is because of the fact that we have become too busy. We don't get vacation time, are overloaded with financial stress, parenting stress ... and many other issues. Our bodies are telling us to LISTEN...and we are just medicating them instead.

I'm not arguing that depression isn't real and that medication doesn't help, but I also think that it is too bad that instead of being able to change our lives and make them work out better so that we arent' as depressed and anxious we have to depend on pharmaceuticals.

[HuckleB]

5. All emotions have a purpose, but that doesn't mean they can't go too far.

Or that some people aren't born with brains that can't keep some emotions and states in check, so to speak.

It's not as simple as your post makes it out be, for many, many people.

[busymom]

11. No...I agree with you...but

I think that the amount of stress we are currently living with, the limited vacation time, etc creates a lot of problems on its own and that if we had the ability to make changes in our lives to reduce stress, take more time off and nurture ourselves and our families more we could escape some of the depression and anxiety.

I say this as a depression sufferer. ;)

[tinrobot]

12. I tend to agree that depression is a symptom, not a disease.

Diagnosing someone with "depression" is like diagnosing someone with "chest pain." Many things cause chest pain, from a heart attack to indigestion. Prescribing a painkiller might alleviate the chest pains, but they may not address the root cause.

Same goes for depression. There are many things that can cause depression - everything from genetic predisposition to repressed anger to lack of exercise and proper diet... plus many more. As with a diagnosis of pain, antidepressants can alleviate the symptoms, but they do not address the root causes.

Yes, antidepressants are often needed, because they lift the fog and allow a person to work on themselves. They've saved a lot of people from suicide. But they do not fix what caused the depression in the first place. Rather than diagnosing someone with a blanket word like "depression," perhaps go further and diagnose the cause of the depression so it can be treated more effectively.

[oserb]

3. agree

You'd have to be mentally ill NOT to be depressed!!! Think about it --- the govt acts in a barbaric manner and the people have been whipped into apathy. The govt claims they want to help you and then they rape you. The American people are really in an abusive relationship and you know who is doing the abusing. Change the govt and the problem is solved.

[LeftishBrit]

8. People get depression in other countries besides America!

So no, 'changing the government' would not solve the problem.

While depression rates do tend to increase during times of unemployment and financial crisis, depression has been a significant problem at all times everywhere.

I am also rather sceptical about whether the 'stress of modern life' is really greater than that of most societies of the past. In the past, most people had to work long hours at manual labour without the aid of technology; lived under constant threat of diseases that couldn't be treated; of their children dying young. Everybody had problems in securing adequate and safe food at certain times of the year; and the large number of poor people at all times. And that great evil, war, has been with us for a very, very long time.

[hedgehog]

6. Clinical depression is not the same as existential angst.

Suggesting that no one would be depressed if we all lived in a fair and just society is about as valid as suggesting that good nutrition and proper exercise is the best treatment for a broken arm.

[HuckleB]

7. Indeed.

But what does that have to do with the article?

[LeftishBrit]

9. I think Hedgehog was probably intending to reply to post 3, rather than to the OP

[hedgehog]

10. Yep. Thanks for clarifying that.

;-)

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.