Citation

Kirsch I. Contemp. Hypnosis 2005; 22(2): 59-66.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ch.24

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Concerns that SSRIs might increase suicide rates among depressed patients raise the question of whether the benefits of these medications warrant the risk they pose. Meta-analyses of published and unpublished clinical trials reveal that the benefits of antidepressants over placebo are minimal. Most trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical company fail to show a significant advantage of SSRIs over inert placebo. Documents obtained from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveal an explicit decision to keep this information from the public and from prescribing physicians. The data suggest that psychotherapy, especially augmented by hypnosis, may be a better choice for depressed individuals.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; insomnia; psychotherapy; depression; lithium; clinical trial; Antidepressant; review; anorexia; antidepressant agent; barbituric acid derivative; sexual dysfunction; citalopram; fluoxetine; mirtazapine; nefazodone; paroxetine; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; bleeding; food and drug administration; meta analysis; diarrhea; nausea; side effect; amnesia; dose response; hypnosis; drug approval; Meta-analyses; Placebo effect; suggestion