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16 - Case Study: Antidepressant Medications

from Part III - Case Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2025

Karen B. Schmaling  and
Robert M. Kaplan
Karen B. Schmaling
Affiliation:
Washington State University
Robert M. Kaplan
Affiliation:
Stanford University
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Summary

Antidepressant medications are widely prescribed for depression and other uses. They are considered a first-line treatment for major depressive disorder. We examine the lack of support for the mechanistic idea that neurotransmitters affect and are affected by these medications. Few people experience significant benefit from their use when compared with the effects of placebos. We consider several ethical issues associated with antidepressants, including conflicts of interest among the committees recommending their use, and examine a study that suffered from spin and other issues of integrity. The chapter examines potential alternatives to antidepressant medications for those with depression.

Keywords

antidepressantsdepressionmajor depressive disorderparticipantsplacebo effectsrelapse prevention
Type
Chapter
Information
Rethinking Clinical Research
Methodology and Ethics
 , pp. 317 - 338
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

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