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NO! The glass is half empty!

Just as I saw this thread I was hearing a report on my local TV news about this same study. But, it took a grimmer view, emphasizing that only about half of depressed patients are ever helped by medication.

This interested me because I have long had the opinion that these meds are wildly over hyped. When they work...great. But the marketing message is all over the media "Remember...depression is a treatable illness." They neglect to mention that you can spend a lot of money and receive no benefit at all.

I found an article about this study, which was released today, over on CNN. They also put a strong positive spin on it. But here is the paragraph that stood out to me:

This is good news by itself, but the bigger picture is even more encouraging, doctors say. When viewed with earlier results, the new findings mean that roughly half of people who suffer from depression can get over it -- not just improve their symptoms -- with adequate medication.

Personally, I am not all that encouraged to read that more than one medication must be tried before even half of patients are relieved of symptoms. A lot of running around happens for patients, a lot of meds are tried, a lot of hopes are disappointed, and a lot of money goes into the pockets of the depression industry while half of patients are discovering that they are not being helped. Again, meds are great when they work. But people should have realistic expectations.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/conditions/03/23/treating.depression.ap/index.html

IF you have had a depression that is more painful than any physical pain you have ever experienced, if you feel so shamed because depression is making everthing that you used to enjoy and receive a sense of wellbeing from like climbing huge mountains which black clouds hanging in the way. Well I am such an advocate for parmecuedical intervention. Yes depression does have an onset and a certain amount of weeks can make a natural healing cycle===but why do I hear folks critical of Pharmicotherapy-like these medication are involved in the mind an have we not come to grips with that we are talking a disease not some weirdie thing that you use drugs for helping the mind.
Sort of the stigma of mental health that is ignoranceThank god there is more and research in and area that is far behind the medical system. before the 1950's (when prefrontal lobotomy was an option) there was leeching, cold water sheet wrappin g, restaints, and institutionalizing,