Jeffrey Nagelbush wrote:
The following column appeared in the Sunday NY Times Web edition: Placebo Nation By JOHN HORGAN<much snipped>
The psychiatrist Jerome Frank warned in his classic book
"Persuasion and
Healing" that the placebo effect might be the primary factor
underlying all
psychiatric remedies. The latest research supports Dr. Frank's
finding:
psychiatrists, psychologists and other "scientific" healers
are really exploiting
the power of human belief, just as shamans and witch doctors
do.
Thanks to Jeff for forwarding this article to the list. Of
course, it suffers, as most articles in the newspaper do, from a certain
level of sensationalism and lack of analysis.
Just two quick points neglected by the article.
First, it does not address the issue that depression (like many psychiatric disorders) is probably not a single disorder but rather a cluster of disorders (with potentially different biochemistries/neurophysiologies). Unfortunately, the diagnostic criteria are based on dichotomous classifications as opposed to a multivariate analysis of presenting symptomotologies and multivariate classification.
As one can not treat all forms of cancer with the same methodologies (although there are some commonalties), one may not be able to treat all depressions the same. The attempt to make a patient/client fit one's favorite treatment modality argues that it will be successful for some - failure for others.
Second, while "cure" is an issue, I'm not sure it is the sole issue. I know that when I have a cold that a cure is not available. Rather, the virus must run its course - time (and my immune system) will bring me back to health. However, I am going to stock my medicine cabinet with a variety of "cures". I'll take my anti-histamines and decongestants (to help me get through night and day), I'll indulge in chicken soup (the first real form of penicillin), and I'll whine to my friends. None of these cure the cold but they do make me feel better - partially placebo, partially treatment.
In relation to depression, perhaps not all "cure" depression but they may enhance one's life while living through it. And after all, for many folks (ourselves, our students, our friends, our family), the ability to live through one's depression is a primary concern.
In regards to Prozac and other medications, I'm more concerned that the use of these drugs is more driven by marketing interests than treatment interests.
Warm regards,
linda
--
linda m. woolf, ph.d.
associate professor - psychology
webster university
main webpage: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/
Holocaust and genocide studies pages: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/holocaust.html
womens' pages: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/women.html
gerontology pages: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/gero.html
