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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 15:03:19
If placebo eases depression, real meds will too
By Rick Nauert, Ph.D.
Psych CentralNew research finds that when it comes to treating depression, how well a person responds to a sham or fake medicine can be a predictor of how they will respond to actual medications.
That is, those who can muster their brain's own chemical forces against depression appear to have an advantage in overcoming its symptoms with help from a medication.
However, for those whose brain chemistry doesn't react as much to a fake medicine, or placebo, the active drug may provide substandard benefits.
Full article:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2015/10/01/if-placebo-eases-depression-real-meds-will-too/92948.html====================
Thoughts on this? It seems to me that this article's suggesting that much (though not necessarily all) of the response that patients with depression get from taking medications is due to the placebo effect. What do the rest of you think?
Tomatheus
Posted by rjlockhart37 on October 3, 2015, at 16:20:08
In reply to If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 15:03:19
the way i view, alot of times when people take a pill (mood altering one) they expect an effect from it
i've kinda noticed that narc's such as stimulants, benzodiapines, and barbiturates, and opiates are known to work fast and effective, but thats why so many people perfer to take a narcotic because it works quickly and gives a noticeable change in mood......(in drug liking) because they have a prononced effect on the nuerotransmitters.....
Posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 16:42:06
In reply to Re: If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by rjlockhart37 on October 3, 2015, at 16:20:08
Thank you for your response, RJ. I think it's interesting that you mention opiates, because if my understanding of the article I posted is correct, the article was suggesting (among other things) that activation of the mu-opioid system is involved in the responses to both antidepressant medications and placebos. One of the researchers quoted (Marta Pecina, M.D., Ph.D.) had the following to say: "We can envision that by enhancing placebo effects, we might be able to develop faster-acting or better antidepressants." Perhaps opiates or opiate-like drugs might to a greater extent be looked at as potential antidepressant treatments following this research?
Tomatheus
Posted by SLS on October 3, 2015, at 16:48:03
In reply to If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 15:03:19
I think the research is suggesting that a placebo response indicates that the engine is in working order, even though there might be a need for more fuel or a tune-up. Brains such a these are more apt to respond to current treatments than one that have more profound abnormalities in function or morphology.
Mostly, placebo responses are short-lived. Relapses occur within two or three months. More severely ill people tend not respond to placebo at all. This is why when a clinical trial includes only those people whose depression is measured as being severe, the difference in response rate between placebo and active substance is robust.
Placebo response does not equal response to no care. Just being under the care of doctors and the support one gets in a clinical trial might be enough for someone to feel less depressed and report feeling better.
- Scott
Posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 17:23:12
In reply to Re: If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by SLS on October 3, 2015, at 16:48:03
Thank you for your response, Scott. I think that what you wrote about placebo responses being mostly short lived is interesting, and I wonder if the research that was covered by the article that I posted might be of more benefit to individuals with feelings of depression that are relatively brief in duration (as opposed to feelings of depression that are more persistent), since for these individuals, a long-lasting antidepressant response might not necessarily be needed. Though, such individuals might still benefit from a more lasting treatment response that can prevent depression from recurring. What do you think?
Tomatheus
Posted by Lamdage22 on October 10, 2015, at 7:45:11
In reply to Re: If placebo eases depression, real meds will too » SLS, posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 17:23:12
I feel the same way as Scott.
Posted by Meltingpot on November 12, 2015, at 15:15:05
In reply to If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 15:03:19
I honestly believe that anyone with depression/anxiety who responds to a placebo, can't be that bad. After all the classic symptoms of depression are a feeling of hopelessness and that you are never going to feel better, in that state of mind how can you ever "imagine" that you do.
I remember when I was 24 and I started to feel very bad, I tried all sorts of remedies, exercise, herbal remedies, Alexander Technique, Yoga, homeopathy and pardon my French but they did jack sh*t. It wasn't until I took antidepressants and they worked that I really noticed a difference. But that's my opinion, maybe there are some people out there who are really bad but who are very suggestible. I don't think that I am suggestible.
Denise
Posted by SLS on November 12, 2015, at 16:26:37
In reply to Re: If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by Meltingpot on November 12, 2015, at 15:15:05
> I honestly believe that anyone with depression/anxiety who responds to a placebo, can't be that bad. After all the classic symptoms of depression are a feeling of hopelessness and that you are never going to feel better, in that state of mind how can you ever "imagine" that you do.
>
> I remember when I was 24 and I started to feel very bad, I tried all sorts of remedies, exercise, herbal remedies, Alexander Technique, Yoga, homeopathy and pardon my French but they did jack sh*t. It wasn't until I took antidepressants and they worked that I really noticed a difference. But that's my opinion, maybe there are some people out there who are really bad but who are very suggestible. I don't think that I am suggestible.
>
> DeniseIn clinical trials of antidepressants, the greater the degree of severity, the lower the placebo response rate.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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