Posted by dj on February 19, 2001, at 11:27:03
In reply to Re: Cam etc, Some interesting ??s raised in Active..., posted by Cam W. on February 19, 2001, at 10:14:14
Cam, As always thanks for your thoughtful comments.
> dj - Read the following article (available at your nearest medical library):
>
> Parker G, et al. Assessing the comparative effectiveness of antidepressant therapies: a prosepective clinical practice study, J Clin. >Psychiatry 2001 (Feb); 62(2): 117-125.Anybody have access to a digital version of this which they could link us all to...??
>
> ...depression is a number of disorders (breakdowns of the body) that manifest in similar symptoms.
...antidepressants (in acute or reactive depressions) are a bandage. They "put the floor under you feet"...To heal from or live with a disorder requires hard work on the part of the patient via compliance with drug regimens, >lifestyle changes and a real desire to get >better.I don't think that Mr. O'Connor would disagree with any of your prior comments, based on my understanding of what I've read of his.
>
>...Perhaps he truly believes in his views, but >this does not make them scientifically correct.I don't doubt that he truly believes in his views which are based on practical personal experience dealing with depression and helping others do so, as well as reviewing and referencing lots of scientific studies and noting the contradictions and flaws. Careful observation, review, discussion
and forming hypothesises based on the same are part of the scientific process, which then need to be tested out. He has oulined in his writings some of the systemic and growing biases and distortions in our existing system, toward biological and medicinal approaches to the detriment of other approaches.>
> Two type of psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy) have shown to have efficacy in treating depression. Psychoanalysis, Dr.O'Connor's field of training, >has not been shown to be effective.That may be his field but I believe the clinic he ran used various approaches including medicinal and he does make and explore the point you cite in his excerpts on his website, in terms of validated effectiveness of therapy models.
"...The effectiveness rate of psychotherapy is no greater than that of antidepressant medication (which themselves are not usually used properly). You say that psychotherapy has not been scientifically analyzed. There are hundreds, if not thousands. of article in the literature on >psychotherapy..."
Those are not my contentions they are Mr. O'Connors and it would be great if he would comment further on his conclusions, in this forum.
> ... The methods of scientifically evaluating the effectiveness of a new chemical compound in a disease are improving, but the system we have >now, is the best that there is."
Is it truly or is it just what we've settled for??? I don't know, just raising the question which many more familiar with the field have done in much more detail in the NY Times, scientific journals, the O'Connor text and elsewhere... More grist for the mill...
Sante!
dj
poster:dj
thread:4748
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010209/msgs/4757.html