Rick- A "third variable" would have to be correlated with BOTH SSRI prescriptions AND a decrease in suicide rate. It would also have to be a logical cause for both. Without such a plausable third variable I think that the correlation should not be dismissed out of hand.
-Don. Don Allen Dept. of Psychology Langara College 100 W. 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5Y 2Z6 Phone: 604-323-5871 ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Froman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 2:06 pm Subject: [tips] Re: SSRIs and depression and anxiety To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > Don Allen asks: > > "If you are suggesting that it is only a spurious relationship > then what would you propose as a logical "third variable" to > account for > > the apparent connection?" > > Since this study is totally uncontrolled, how about anything that has > varied in the same or opposite direction as the suicide trend in those > years? How has the stock market or other economic indicators done? > Haveno other societal indicators improved over those years or is > societyjust totally going down the toilet? > > I do believe medication has helped but this is the worst possible > evidence for its effect. If that's the best we've got, I will be very > disappointed. > > Rick > > > Dr. Rick Froman, Chair > Division of Humanities and Social Sciences > Professor of Psychology > John Brown University > 2000 W. University > Siloam Springs, AR 72761 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (479) 524-7295 > http://www.jbu.edu/academics/hss/faculty/rfroman.asp > > "Pete, it's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human > heart." > - Ulysses Everett McGill > > > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi- > bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
