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
I can attest to that - at least if it's mild depression. About 10 years ago I finally decided to ask my GP about it, and she prescribed Zoloft. I took it for six months. I felt great, however I always new I didn't want to be on anything permanently. Stopped taking it after six months, and I can tell you that it definitely changed something in my chemistry permanently.
I still get depressed mildly every now and then, but I know how to get myself out of it alot quicker than I used to.
Just a personal anecdote from a lurker. : )
It is not grim for those patients who were helped.