[Al B.]

Some observers assert that the medicines themselves work because of the placebo effect, but most psychiatrists believe the drugs do have an effect of their own. Drugs are a "placebo-plus" treatment, said Helen Mayberg, head of neuropsychiatry at the Rotman Research Institute at the University of Toronto.

In a study published last week in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Mayberg evaluated brain changes during trials using a sophisticated brain imaging technique.

Of course she would say that.  Her study was funded by Eli Lilly.  She got unexpected results, then spends half of her report trying to explain them away.  What's amazing is that this study even got published, since drug companies often write contracts with researchers that preclude them from publishing stuff that's negative for the company.

I get a big kick out of psychiatric drug proponents praising the state of mental health science and preaching to me about MY biases.

FYI, here's the cite for the AJP article: 

Mayberg, H. et al., "The Functional Neuroanatomy of the Placebo Effect," American Journal of Psychiatry, 159:728-737, May 2002

[a history buff]

Darn. My pharmacist doesn't stock M&Ms.