PLAYLIST: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2DB71558228D2649
Professor Irving Kirsch, author of The Emperor’s New Drugs, discussed his research into the efficacy of antidepressant medication. Kirsch argued that,
contrary to popular belief, depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and treating the condition with antidepressant drugs is no more
effective than placebos.
Kirsch analyzed data from numerous clinical studies on antidepressants and said he was surprised to discover that “75 percent of the response to the drugs
appears to be a placebo effect.” According to Kirsch, patients improved mostly because they believed they were taking a medication that would help them with
depression. He went so far as to say that the figure could be as high as 82 percent, with the remaining ‘drug difference’ accounted for by enhanced placebo
effect.
Kirsch stressed that lack of serotonin cannot be the physical cause of depression. As proof, he pointed to a new French antidepressant that works as a
selective serotonin reuptake enhancer (SSRE). This drug decreases serotonin levels — exactly the opposite of how popular SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor) medication functions. Kirsch said studies show about 60 percent of patients get better regardless of whether they are on antidepressants that
increase, reduce, or do nothing to their serotonin levels. This is a clear evidence to Kirsch that these drugs actually do nothing.
And not only are antidepressants an ineffective pharmaceutical treatment for depression, Kirsch pointed out that they come with a host of negative side
effects, including insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. Kirsch suggested alternative treatments for
depression, such as physical exercise (shown clinically to help people get better) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which boasts effectiveness
comparable to antidepressants. Patients treated with CBT are less likely to relapse, he added. Kirsch also advised people currently taking depression
medication to continue if it was working for them.
Duration : 0:10:6
9 Responses
2010 Feb 09
i have tried dmt, …
i have tried dmt,and you are right
2010 Feb 09
People tired of …
People tired of conventional depressants but still feel that they need something to give them the boost they need to sort out their lives and carry on with regained happiness might want to look into di-methyl-tryptamine (DMT) and Ayahuasca (a shamanic brew with DMT in it). It just might change your life.
Search for Ayahuasca shamanism torrent, Metamorphosis (up on YouTube now, I think), check National Geographic article by Kira Salik, check erowid . org etc, etc. Much info out there.
2010 Feb 09
in december 2007 my …
in december 2007 my depression dissolved after years of battle and pills of great variety .just happened .others have had similar experience .awesome ,also though im not in a position to do so please help set you freee at her channel.all appropriated
2010 Feb 09
opiats are the only …
opiats are the only “antidepresants” that work……i.e….oxicodone , hydrocodone, morphine ect. All others are crap.
2010 Feb 09
Those drugs are …
Those drugs are powerful! I’ve used some in the past.They indeed affected my brain chemistry. Ultimately, they only got me through the tough times by keeping my brain occupied, much like recreational drugs. However, they made it impossible to do simple math and use basic reasoning.I had to quit, or not have a job. One though,Klonopin,DID change my wiring, and by using it for a brief time I successfully elimated panic attacks. I never get them any more,though I self medicate&don’t ride the bus.
2010 Feb 09
I might be possible …
I might be possible that the placebo effect is really the body’s own healing mechanisms, mistaken for the effects of positive thinking stemming from the belief that a sugar pill is helping? Then again, positive thinking and positive beliefs may speed up the body’s regular healing.
2010 Feb 09
Thanx for this …
Thanx for this Setyoufree.
2010 Feb 09
If you are …
If you are depressed, maybe, just maybe, you should get up off of your and go do something! Do anything! Depression is there to guide you back to where you want to go, if you ignore it with drugs, it eventually gets worse. Of course, on the bright side, the number one side effect of most of these drugs is suicide. So, if it doesn’t work, at least you won’t be around to get depressed anymore.
2010 Feb 09
Thanks for the …
Thanks for the upload!