Comment by lilsunnybee | Hacker News Reader

Comment by lilsunnybee | Hacker News Reader

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Yeah this post is really harmful. Antidepressants definitely have significant and varied effects, and those with depression should not be afraid to explore their chemical options, especially if it means lifting out of a life-threatening suicidal phase. Antidepressants affect various neurotransmitters in the brain, either blocking reuptake, or providing artificial analogues, etc. To say they provide mainly a placebo affect is just ludicrous, and suggests a lack of understanding of the science, or any significant practical experience with antidepressants or mental illness.

And at least here in the US, there was a little thing that happened in the 60's called deinstitutionalisation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinstitutionalisation). No one is locked up against their will for more than 48 - 72 hours at a time, and even then only if they are deemed to pose a significant threat to themselves or others. Not sure what the situation is like in Sweden, but i can't imagine it would be much different.

Luriel your personal beliefs are ignorant and harmful. Please stop spreading disinformation that could result it people dying or suffering due to not seeking medical assistance for a medical condition.

Yes, psychoactive chemicals have a very real effect on neurotransmitters; this does not say the physical effect must bear out its stated psychiatric intent. Also while I have no real idea what was going on in the 60s, public mental hospitals in the USA are often terrible to the point of being inhumane. Alot of people I've talked to who've had long and or recurring stays in public institutions compare them, often negatively, to prisons. The private sector is infinitely better in that regard, though.

The real issue is just that psychology and psychiatry are both extremely frontier sciences. I agree that encouraging people to avoid them is harmful, but it's not apparent to me that most of what's happening in those fields isn't still largely guesswork.

Either way, I'd also like to see the studies Luriel's talking about regarding the efficacy of specific meds.

Actually, the evidence does show that many (most?) antidepressants have little effect over and above placebo. Look at the meta-analyses and you'll see that. I'm not sure why it's ludicrous - that's precisely what the science says.

Now certainly antidepressants can help many people (my wife for one), but again it is likely to be mostly the placebo effect, which is actually very powerful, especially in depression. For some people a placebo can be the 'kick' they need to get help them get out of their depression. In my wife's case she also used CBT with an excellent therapist, and I think that was likely more useful in the long-term (she is now free of depression).

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