study: antidepressant and talk therapy no better than placebo

Tests of that type don't examine the long-range value of talk therapy, in my view, and I suspect that more value lies there than in medications in some instances.

Medications are really required where there is a chemical imbalance involved, and bipolar illness is caused by a chemical imbalance and depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance, as well.

I'm glad you posted the negative side of the study: "not all forms of psychotherapy were studied, and only two types of antidepressants were tried." Those alone are enough to make me have strong faith in talk therapy and APPROPRIATE dosage of proper medications.

In addition, the study doesn't reveal what types of depression were examined in the study: were they severely depressed or mildly depressed patients?

That's my opinion, as you called for.

Have a Happy New Year.

I.G.

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 12/30/2011 11:33:32 AM (GMT-7)

One thing I learned a long time ago when it comes to talk therapy is that the patient and the therapist have to really click for it to have any chance of helping, and also the patient has to really try and cooperate with the process.

Another thing I know when it comes to medication is that it is a matter of the right medication at the right time and properly dosed for it to do any good.