The use of antidepressants is very common. Between 2005-2008, the CDC estimated that 11% of Americans aged 12 and older took antidepressants. Over 60% of these individuals had been taking antidepressants for two years or longer, yet less than a third had seen a mental health professional in the past year.
With such widespread use of antidepressants, one might expect that depression would be as well-managed as polio. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A recent meta-analysis from the United Kingdom, which reviewed 47 clinical trials, found that antidepressant drugs offer minimal benefit to those who take them.
The study, led by Professor Irving Kirsch of the University of Hull and published in the online journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine, indicated that the drugs produced only a “very small” improvement compared to a placebo, specifically a two-point difference on the 51-point Hamilton depression scale.
Professor Kirsch commented on the findings, saying, “Given these results, there seems to be little reason to prescribe antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients, unless alternative treatments have failed to provide a benefit.”
Alternative Approaches
The alternatives mentioned by Professor Kirsch include exercise, talk therapy, interpersonal therapies, and counseling. These activities, which naturally stimulate and invigorate both the body and mind, are increasingly being recognized as the primary defenses against depression, with antidepressants now taking a secondary role.
The popularity of antidepressants might be traced back to the 1994 publication “Listening to Prozac” by Peter Kramer, who suggested that anyone feeling a lack of “joy juice” might benefit from a dose of Prozac, the “mood brightener.”
Depression is a serious clinical condition that severely impacts and debilitates many individuals. Dismissing it with a suggestion to simply “run around the block” is both naive and unhelpful.
However, the study’s results suggest that some individuals prescribed antidepressants for depression may have been dealing with normal life’s ups and downs, routine stress, and non-clinical issues. For those whose depression stems from situational unhappiness, antidepressants alone are unlikely to be effective.
Moving Forward
In response to the study, Alan Johnson, the United Kingdom’s Health Secretary, remarked, “Talking therapies can have dramatic effects. We have put a lot of emphasis on medication in the past, and it is about time we redressed the balance and put more emphasis on talking treatments.”
Alternative treatments for depression, particularly exercise, have shown promise for quite some time. A 2004 meta-analysis titled “The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed” highlighted:
“The efficacy of exercise in decreasing symptoms of depression has been well established. Data regarding the positive mood effects of exercise involvement, independent of fitness gains, suggest that the focus should be on frequency of exercise rather than duration or intensity until the behavior has been well established.”
Interestingly, it is frequent exercise, rather than the most intense workouts, that positively impacts symptoms of depression.
Achieving success in life often involves following a plan and process. Just as one cannot finish a book without reading the first page or reach the top of a staircase without climbing the steps, battling depression requires effort and a strategic approach. Evidence indicates that incorporating exercise and other non-drug therapies into one’s routine may lead to the best outcomes.
Additionally, the natural product Lithium Orotate appears to be effective in promoting a balanced mood.
