|
Post by Admin on Jul 17, 2017 16:08:38 GMT -4
|
|
|
Post by Linda Zhang on Jul 17, 2017 19:17:22 GMT -4
How Do Antidepressants Really Work
Antidepressant psychopharmacology is such a new field in medicine where so much is yet to be discovered. We know what we know: that they work on selective neurotransmitters in the brain to produce improved mood in those suffering from depression and anxiety. We know what we don't know: as stated in the article, how this play of neurotransmitters can bolster mood with a delayed therapeutic response, and why some drugs work for some patients but not for others, and what even causes depression in the first place. The scariest yet, and perhaps the most exciting part in my opinion, is that we don't know what we don't know: what are the long term therapeutic and side effects of these antidepressants. Looking back 50years from now, will we have developed new, more effective less toxic medications that alone can treat depression, or will we have returned to "softer" treatment options like CBT? We will see in 2067.
|
|
|
Post by matthewkirton on Jul 19, 2017 23:33:18 GMT -4
The antidepressants available to us now are pretty much our best guess at how to improve moods in those suffering with depression. We discovered that the more Serotonin available, the better a person's mood is so we developed pharmaceuticals to aid in boosting those neurotransmitter levels. We also have SNRIs which allow for more norepinephrine to remain in the bloodstream for increased energy to help patients who attained better moods, but still felt lethargic despite the drug. What's happening is basically a treatment of the symptoms as opposed to a treatment of the cause. Yes these medications can help someone feel better, but they only improve while on the medication, without it they go right back to where they started. Antidepressants are great for getting people back on their feet, but a combination of these pharmaceuticals and CBT could very well be our current best bet at treatments, until something better comes along.
|
|
|
Post by Elspeth Bittle on Jul 20, 2017 16:21:53 GMT -4
How do antidepressants actually work?
The author attempts to outline what we know and what we don’t know about depression/anti-depressants. The article focuses heavily on the later. In my opinion, if we want to know more, that’s where research funding has to go. However, given the fact that we know as little as we do, and there are still such high sales of antidepressants, pharmaceutical companies aren’t very inclined to spend a bunch of money to find out more. They can already manufacture a pill cheaply that gets decent reviews from its users. People being depressed and buying what’s available from pharmaceutical companies is a huge moneymaker for them, why would they stop in the name of scientific discovery? Thus, the research comes from places like small clinics where the patients who aren’t having success with pills are willing to try anything to alleviate their depression. Would be interesting to see how fast the research on depression could advance if a major pharmaceutical company provided the financial backing.
|
|
|
Post by kellythomas087 on Jul 20, 2017 18:35:39 GMT -4
How do antidepressants actually work?
This article states that "familiarity does not automatically mean understanding." There is already a saturation of awareness for mental health issues such as depression. However, there is not enough understanding of what is truly happening physiologically among your average American citizen. This is the intent of the author's article. To not only raise awareness of mental disorders but also inform in layman's terms to a large audience why mental disorders happen and what we are currently doing to treat people afflicted with them. The current field of mental health is still relatively new and there is much to learn. Continued research and development with medications and physiology are of utmost importance in the future of mental health.
|
|
|
Post by Nora on Jul 20, 2017 19:27:58 GMT -4
After reading the article, I realized that the article outlined both the “why” and “ how” antidepressants work. This is because it stressed on how different patients react differently to the same medication to treat depression because they express different symptoms and signs. Also, through out the article, I was able to deduce that antidepressants do increase the neurotransmitters in the brain but the time frame in which the neurotransmitters work varies that is why patients might experience the effect of the antidepressants differently. For instance, for SSRI, it takes about 4 weeks before patients can feel that its working and based on the article, we will conclude that the level of serotonin has been increased but the absorption and distribution rates will vary. In the article, Neuroplasticity gives a glimpse about the mechanism of action of antidepressants and why they are of common use in the medical field. I was able to understand that the use of antidepressants leads to the increase of the previously depleted neurotransmitters in depressed patients and with such increased, connections are formed between neurons and therefore the brain is able to function as before. so with such knowledge about the brain ah effect antidepressants have on the brain, I feel that medical field and pharmaceuticals can work together in learn more about these disorders, the antidepressants, mechanism of actions and adverse effects in other to treat our patients efficiently and effectively.
|
|
Karely Correa Calderas
Guest
|
Post by Karely Correa Calderas on Jul 20, 2017 22:37:44 GMT -4
For the past 2-3 decades, there has been an increase in new medications to treat mental conditions like depression. Psychotherapy is a new field that is still developing. This is because we do not know the exact causes for some mental conditions. For instance, some people will improve their symptoms with a particular medication. Others will get worse with the same medication and will have to switch until the patient is able to find something that works. More research needs to be done to have more information about the condition and how can we target it with the correct medication. Not everyone has the same symptoms for depression, not everyone responds well with SSRIs, because we still don’t know the etiology of the condition and how to correct it. I think the article does a good job increasing awareness in this field.
|
|
|
Post by christophercordeiro on Jul 20, 2017 22:59:08 GMT -4
I think the article brings a up really good point on how so many people are on ADs and think that's the only answer. A lot of Americans either don't know about CBT/Counseling or are too lazy to take part in it. They see an easy road with a pill. I believe taking medication for depression/anxiety will only lead to a short term solution for most people. CBT is where the long term success is made. Realizing how to deal with your emotions and thoughts goes a long way in treatment. I still agree that combination therapy is best, but initially would encourage CBT just much if not more than medication.
|
|
|
Post by Russell Garcia on Jul 21, 2017 9:42:58 GMT -4
If I present evidence that unipolar major depression could be treated by listening to "Concerto for two violins" by J.S. Bach; most patients and professionals would immediately dismiss my claims as conjecture. However, if the majority of my patients treated with music therapy vs no therapy were to show a significant difference in improvement of symptoms, the treatment would be considered efficacious on some level and patients would demand it. The gross anatomy of the brain is common between individuals. The physiology of the brains between two individuals can be similar or different depending on many factors, some of which we have an incomplete understanding. An individual listening to Bach uses the same gross anatomy to process sensory information, but the way that information is organized and stored is unique to the individual and his/her neural pathways. If there are deficiencies within the complex physiology of those pathways we arrive at a crossroads in treatment for our patient. Either we can attempt to understand and research the patient until we gather enough data to generate a hypothesis about the cause of the pathology; or we can entrust the brain, a physiologist with a lifetime of neurology research experience to offer us some insight into the treatment. We can add serotonin and monitor the patient to see if there is improvement. Some patients that try SSRI therapy will seen benefit from its use. People have tried CBT and other treatments for depression as monotherapy or in combination. For some patients, an SSRI is better for their schedule. I would rather buy a laptop than build one myself. I don't have time to learn computer science and engineering; I just want a computer so I can do my job more efficiently. I don't have time to learn neuroscience and medicine; I just want relief from my depression. I understand there are alternative approaches to treating depression, but until we can better understand how the brain works, we must do what is most beneficial for our current patient. That might include offering them a drug with an unknown mechanism of action and sub-optimal efficacy. It would be unethical to withhold a treatment from our patients simply because it produces inconsistent or variable efficacy in each patient. If it is safe, and it works, we should offer it to them. Most patients, like ourselves, simply want relief from their symptoms without the hassle of learning how the treatment works. If it works and it's safe, give it to me so I can get back to my life. Arabella Steinbacher & Akiko Suwanai - J. S. Bach : Concerto for Two Violins
|
|
|
Post by Amanda Bailey on Jul 21, 2017 18:24:02 GMT -4
Based on this article, I found it interesting that little is known about how antidepressants work. While it is true that there are ongoing studies on how the brain functions, the fact that people are still being prescribed antidepressants with this in mind is astonishing. Like the article mentioned, the associated symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Yet, those who are suffering from this condition are being treated under an umbrella of medication that may not provide relief, such as SSRIs or even atypical medication like Wellbutrin. Perhaps with an increased awareness about depression, there would be additional studies conducted, as there would be less stigma and more research participants available. Moreover, insurance companies would see the need to provide better coverage for people with depression, including non-pharmaceutical treatment options like psychotherapy, ECT or TMS. Also, this may lead to more promotion of the aforementioned treatment options and spark more understanding of depression amongst the general population. People who are depressed may find relief with medication, non-pharmaceutical treatment, or both, but they need to be well informed to make a decision. Additionally, the treatment options should be equally available and affordable.
|
|
|
Post by Sarah Gill on Jul 23, 2017 18:16:29 GMT -4
This article suggests that we still have so much to learn about the mechanism of depression since it is a very complicated disorder and much research needs to be done for a better understanding of it . Part of the problem is that it is a disorder that manifests itself in many different ways and it varies from person to person. This article further discusses how the potential side effects of antidepressants can be overwhelming however, they are so commonly used because it is better than not doing anything about the disorder . I think this is an area of medicine which would be of benefit to research as it is a disorder that plagues a huge amount of the general population. But, in all honesty I don't know how much funding depression research would get, given how much profit pharmaceutical companies are netting from this disorder.
|
|
|
Post by Saurav Randhawa on Jul 24, 2017 11:11:04 GMT -4
The article brings up a lot of good points on depression, the main one being how since we have stumbled upon antidepressants people are looking for a quick fix to a much more complicated problem. We only know that increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain help to alleviate the feeling of depression, but we do not know the more complex reasoning of why. I agree with the author when he says we should be exploring more avenues of treating depression such as early CBT. Since we do not fully understand what is happening in depression, I believe we should try combination therapy because we have medication that currently works but we should strive to able to to take control of our minds and emotions and not rely on medication whose long term effects we do not fully understand.
|
|
|
Post by Maryse Bakouetila on Jul 25, 2017 8:20:12 GMT -4
Public education on depression has made it easier for non-affected people to understand that depression is real and for affected people to seek treatment with less stigma. We have come a long way in terms of medications to treat depression. However, our knowledge of the actual neurological processes behind depression are still limited, hence our understanding of how certain drugs work is blunted. Through perseverance and research, the scientific community has come up with some medications that provide more benefits than harm and seem to help people with depression. However, it is evident that we have not grasped the full understanding of what is actually going on in the brain, and although many hypotheses have been advanced to why it takes a while before seeing an improvement with the medications, no one has been able to demonstrate one theory as being unequivocally true. Yet these medications help, and we cannot deny their merits. It has been advanced than one way to breach the gap in what is still missing despite pharmacological therapy is to use cognitive behavioral therapy, as to tailor to the specific depression of individual patients. However, CBT is still expensive and many cannot afford it. We can only hope that public education on CBT, along with the undeniable proofs that CBT is helpful, factor in making cognitive behavioral therapy more accessible and affordable to the ones who need it.
|
|
tams4
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by tams4 on Jul 26, 2017 16:21:15 GMT -4
Antidepressants change your brain chemistry. Since everyone of us has a different brain chemistry, some drugs are more effective, or effective at all, on some of us than on others. Paxil, and other medications like it, can stabilize mood and improve anxiety. By themselves they can really help. If you also get a good therapist, you can see significant changes, perhaps even permanent ones that may let you use fewer medications.
|
|
|
Post by Kristin O'Connor on Jul 27, 2017 15:25:44 GMT -4
What struck me most about this article was the author’s reference at the end being the fact that it is much easier to give a patient a box of pills and say see you in a month than it is to have the patient come in for multiple appointments over the next month. Although I think antidepressants have allowed people to become better equipped to overcome depression and has increased the awareness among multiple populations, in a way I feel as though this has lead to undervaluing the use of interpersonal therapy. The de-emphasis on therapy and increased emphasis on pharmacotherapy is a dangerous path in my opinion. Although each patient is unique and therapy may work for one while not for another, as the popularity of antidepressants rises I hope that patient’s are still given the option for therapy sessions as well.
|
|