(JAMA), 70% of patients suffering from depression do not benefit from the antidepressants they use.

Subject:	(JAMA), 70% of patients suffering from depression do not benefit from the antidepressants they use.
Date:	07 Jan 2010 05:29:03 GMT

Study questions efficacy of antidepressants
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:18:01 GMT

While antidepressants are commonly prescribed in individuals
suffering from varying degrees of depression, a new study
voices doubt over their efficacy in mild to moderate cases.

According to the review article published in the Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA), 70 percent of
patients suffering from depression do not benefit from the
antidepressants they use.

The study found that these drugs are only effective in
patients suffering from the most severe forms of depression.

"The magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medication
compared with placebo increases with severity of depression
symptoms and may be minimal or nonexistent, on average, in
patients with mild or moderate symptoms," said lead
researcher Jay C. Fournier.

Scientists therefore urge doctors and policymakers to change
their approach to such patients.

"The studies used for the analysis in the JAMA paper differ
methodologically from studies used to support the approval
of paroxetine for major depressive disorder, so it is
difficult to make direct comparisons between the study
results," said Glaxo spokeswoman Claire Brough, stressing
that antidepressants play a critical role in treating
depressive symptoms.

PKH/HGH
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http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115510§ionid=3510210
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