News and Briefs:
This is a brief article on narrative for the March 2010 Meier Clinics Newsletter.
The Seattle Times - Drugs may aid only extreme depression, new study says
The buzz among my therapist friends is that this recent study on antidepressants is the least biased one ever done. If this link expires, you can find an article in the Seattle Times health articles archive entitled "Drugs may aid only extreme depression, new study says" by Benedict Carey and originally published January 5, 2010. The tag line reads: "Some widely prescribed drugs for depression provide relief in extreme cases but are no more effective than placebo pills for most patients, according to a new analysis." Other studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise is as effective as antidepressants for those diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
You can google many articles on this, here is one:
The Huffington Post - Exercise: The Best Antidepressant Ever?
My personal experience with clients fighting off depression is that exercise and other lifestyle changes work best, but I have seen enough improvement with antidepressants that I fully support a person's desire to try them. Of my clients who have tried them, about half feel significant relief, and half do not notice any relief.