Posted by Larry Hoover on August 31, 2004, at 7:46:13
In reply to permanent damages by antidepressants ?, posted by francesco on August 29, 2004, at 16:36:06
> I would like to know how many of you believe in this theory but I would prefer not to hear 'wishful thinking'. We all wish that this were not true but I would like to understand if, in your opinion, it *can* be true.
Major depression, particularly the recurrent sort, is a progressive disease. There are marked changes in brain function (as measured by certain types of functional imagery). Some, but not all, of those abnormal functions, respond to e.g. drug therapy. Others respond to e.g. cognitive therapy. But nothing has yet been shown to restore the brain to "normal" function, even during periods of remission of symptoms. Time marches on. The brain ages during treatment, just as it does at any other time. Aging takes its toll. The brain continues to be assaulted by the progression of the disease, even during treatment. I don't think there is any real way to differentiate between the effects of drug treatment, and the effects of the disease progression itself. Adverse effects of drug treatment are certainly possible, and may be, with some certainty, seen in a particular group of treated individuals, but we view the situation through hindsight, and without a control subject for comparison purposes.
Here's a link to an earlier thread on the subject:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030423/msgs/221978.html
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:383758
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/384576.html