Yes, I am in the "biz." A moderate Major Depressive Episode normally lasts around 6 months but 2/3 of people who experience one have re-occurances.
Another empirical fact. Favorable response rates for antidepressants as a whole are around 60% whereas for a placebo, they are 40%. So, you're basically getting an extra, though temporary, 20% positive response rate which is not much to brag about given the billions spent on these drugs, the frequently horrendous side effects, and, as mentioned, the dependence caused by these drugs (they are not truly addictive, but they are marked by "rebound" effects which simply means that when you stop taking them, the symptoms reappear, often with greater extremity).
FWIW, cognitive-behavior therapy has been empirically demonstrated to be as effective as antidepressants for moderate depression (and there are no negative side effects and a host of positive side effects... e.g., lower relapse rates, generalized benefit for other affective problems like anxiety). So it is certainly NOT true that the only options for Major depression are suicide or drugs.
best...
LIG |
