Posted by bleauberry on November 10, 2009, at 16:31:11
In reply to Peter Breggin, posted by uncouth on November 9, 2009, at 18:33:12
I think it will be 50 to 100 years before the theories...both pro and con...can be debated with any sense of scientific body. I think right now we are only in the pioneering stage of discovery what these meds do to the brain on a molecular level.
I think it deserves mention...and this is significantly contrary to the beliefs of most everyone here...that depression is not a disease. It is a set of symptoms caused by a disease. The disease could be a genetic flaw, toxic burden, infectious organisms (inflammation and general systemic disregulation), immune dysfunction (inflammation and general systemic), disregulation), hormone disregulation, and others. The set of symptoms resulting often fit the description of what we call depression. The impact on the brain is severe enough that we can see shrinking, damage, and lesions.
It is purely hit and miss, but in the support of ADs, the right one can actually reverse the disease...it is possible for an AD to regulate the immune system in such a way as to make Lyme go dormant...even though the patient is still infected, they are asymptomatic. On the other side of the coin, hit or miss, the AD can worsen the situation. I believe this scenario is probably true of all diseases. The ADs have the potential to either help the situation or worsen it.
Obviously the best strategy would be to identify what the cause of the set of depressive symptoms is for each patient. Much research is needed in that area. The best we can do today is probe and challenge with various substances to rule something in or rule something out.
I don't know if ADs cause brain damage. I know I experienced the so-called post-ssri syndrome, as have others here...but is that actually a post ssri thing or is a manifestation of the unknown disease that was there the whole time? Don't know.
Lithium in moderate doses probably is protective. As is magnesium, Resveratrol, Japanese Knotwood, Stephania Root, Chlorella, and at least a dozen others. Avoiding dairy, gluten, inorganic meats, inorganic veggies, inorganic fruits, various food additives and colors...all these are also protective.
Actually any substance that reduces brain inflammation and toxicity is neuroprotective. The substance to accomplish that will vary depending on the disease.
Whether Breggin is correct or not, I have no clue. I do think it is good to consider and respect all sides of a debate in psychiatry, because at this point in history, no one really knows. Someone we attack today as being a ridiculous scare-mongerer may in 50 years turn out to be completely accurate. Or not. We don't know right now.
We are all participants in a global pharmaceutical experiment that has been underway for only a few decades. It will take much more time to make any solid judgements, I believe.
poster:bleauberry
thread:925110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091107/msgs/925208.html