More Bad News For Psychotropic Meds

Coach is Right ^ | 5/22/15 | Michael D. Shaw

[Oldpuppymax]

A few years ago, this column discussed certain disturbing findings regarding psychiatry and its relationship with the pharmaceutical industry: The major psychoactive drugs are no better than placebos; the “chemical imbalance” theory of mental illness is mostly nonsense; and psychoactive drugs are being given to children as young as two.

The first finding was buried in clinical trials of antidepressants, in which side effects of real drugs (such as dry mouth) could be emulated in an otherwise non-active agent (aka removing “unblinding bias”). In these cases, there was absolutely no difference in efficacy between the antidepressant and the placebo.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Professor Peter C Gøtzsche, director of the Nordic Cochrane Centre—Copenhagen, ups the ante considerably in a recent Maudsley Debate, sponsored by King’s College London. Before presenting Gøtzsche’s stunning pull quote from the debate, it should be noted that he is hardly some wild-eyed anti-drug/anti-psychiatry fanatic. In fact, he is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in clinical trials of these meds, and even his most ardent foes acknowledge this.

The Cochrane Collaboration—founded in 1993—promotes evidence-informed health decision-making by producing high quality, relevant, accessible systematic reviews, and other synthesized research evidence.

Here is the topic addressed in the debate: Does long term use of psychiatric drugs cause more harm than good? Gøtzsche’s devastating quote…

Given their lack of benefit, I estimate we could stop almost all psychotropic drugs without causing harm—by dropping all antidepressants, ADHD drugs, and dementia drugs (as the small effects are probably the result of unblinding bias) and using only a fraction of the antipsychotics and benzodiazepines we currently use. This would lead to healthier and more long lived populations. Because psychotropic drugs are immensely harmful when used long term,

[Fido969]

It’s almost impossible for medical science to treat mental illness, depression, etc. So they answer is to give them, and charge them for, snake oil.

[jettester]

So, it takes a village....and, a drug dealer, to raise a child?

[AlmaKing]

This topic is better left to medical experts, not bloggers.

[dinoparty]

I cannot speak to longterm effects (ie longer than 10 years) but I can personally attest that SSRI’s can work wonderfully. It’s just a fact. I’m sure that this will cause lots of angry responses, but on this there is no way to sway me because I have experienced it.

[Maurice Tift]

Placebos are getting better all the time and they’re good for so many things.

[maine-iac7]

You post: “ This topic is better left to medical experts, not bloggers.”

So ‘bloggers’ citing scientific medical studies, shouldn’t discuss this? Shouldn’t question ‘the medical EXPERTS?” Still regard them as Gods not to be questioned?

Your ox getting gored?

Argue with this documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk-ryvdWPgw

[Popman]

To believe this article, you would need to buy into the fact all clinical trials for these types of drugs are manipulated or bogus...

MY guess is the data is overstated, and they do work in a small number of people...

I might add my personal experience is a lot of mental illness is a spiritual problem rather than a chemical imbalance...

[Mase]

Agreed. As the parent of a child that has benefited greatly from these therapies, I think this blogger is out of school here. That said, there is no doubt that these drugs are over-prescribed, but we would never have known how different life can be with them had we believed everything we read on the internet. Good thing we listened to our doctor instead, and closely monitored his progress.

[null and void]

I have as well.

[kruss3]

From one Christian to another: excess iron retention shrinks gray matter in the human brain. This does not occur in any other primate and is the underlying cause for my most neurodegerative disorders. The relative gray matter shrinkage
begins with the first bottle of iron supplemented formula milk.

[null and void]

That's ironic...

[iowamark]

major psychoactive drugs are no better than placebos; the “chemical imbalance” theory of mental illness is mostly nonsense..

The first finding was buried in clinical trials of antidepressants, in which side effects of real drugs (such as dry mouth) could be emulated in an otherwise non-active agent (aka removing “unblinding bias”). In these cases, there was absolutely no difference in efficacy between the antidepressant and the placebo.

I think that this claim is very dubious and would like to see citations of this claimed research.

[jwalsh07]

I have family members who benefit immensely from anti depressants and I was very dubious until I took a thorough look at brain chemistry. I am still reluctant to put children on them but there is no doubt in my mind that it can help adults.

[AppyPappy]

It can help and it can make it worse. The problem with them isn’t doing them but not doing them. Coming off these types of drugs can be worse than never taking them. And for some weird reason, people like to quit doing them.

[trebb]

Those of us who haven't had a need for something to take the edge of pure insanity can have all the opinions we want. Many are really bad and even worse if abused/misused, but there are also many success stories. I guess the question is how many would become hopelessly impaired without them compared to how many horror stories there are.

When we get feeling low, a snort of our favorite drink or a Valium would serve to cheer us up...

[Sergio]

bkmk

[luckystarmom]

My mom had a breakdown in her 50s and was diagnosed bipolar. The meds worked for her. She’s in her mid 80s now, and she has an antique shop that she buys and fixes up furniture for.

She went off her meds one time, and started slipping into craziness. She recognized it, and got back in the meds.

[Sivad]

I will argue with your documentary.

The documentary is slickly presented which
made me wonder just who would have the money
to attack big pharma like this? Well, the
organization which produced the film was founded
by the Church of Scientology......Top Gun and Pulp
Fiction paid for the documentary!

There is some truth to some of what is claimed in
the documentary. However, as a mental health worker
who has been on the front lines for almost 20 years
I can tell you that much of that video was pure
crap. I have worked with hundreds of teenagers and
I know many of them have been able to rejoin society
only because of psychiatric Tx which included the
right psychotropic drug in the appropriate dosage.

I work in a level 14 sub - acute care residential Tx
facility for severely emotionally disturbed teens.
Unlike the MDs, PhDs, Clinicians, and actors portrayed
in the video, I have long term experience dealing
with a variety of diagnosis. Very rarely do we
receive a child that doesn’t fit level 14 criteria.
And, believe me, you wouldn’t want most of our
kids on the streets before experiencing our
program or a similar program.

[jwalsh07]

So true. I know a guy who is brilliant that has this problem. Takes his meds all is cool. When he decides to suspend I get a phone call reminding me to be wary of my toothpaste. Hard to understand unless you have seen it up and close.