In one study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers compared the effectiveness of the herb St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) to that of antidepressant drug sertraline (Zoloft) and a placebo.
The researchers found that St. John's wort alleviated depression in 24 percent of participants compared with 25 percent with sertraline and 32 percent with placebo. This suggests that sertraline and St. John's wort may fail for about 75 percent of patients, as compared to 68 percent of patients taking a placebo.
A recent review of placebo-controlled antidepressant trials conducted by drug companies found that placebos produce results similar to or better than antidepressant drugs. In 52 antidepressant trials conducted between 1985 and 2000, fewer than half of the antidepressants showed superiority over placebo. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs may be overestimated.
An analysis of data submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of six of the most widely prescribed antidepressants reports that 80 percent of the response to antidepressants is duplicated by placebo. "If drug and placebo effects are additive, the pharmacological effects of antidepressants are clinically negligible," write the study authors. "If they are not additive, alternative experimental designs are needed for the evaluation of antidepressants."
Posted by Kristopher Foster on May 12, 2006 10:34 AM
