Flawed conclusions to that depression study. The natural history of depression is about two years long on average- that is to say, two years later, the average sufferer with depression will have gotten over an episode, with no medication whatsoever.
The hope with medication is to reduce the duration and severity of suffering, so that some of those folks can get their lives back after one month instead of 24.
Exercise and social contact have wonderful, positive effects, but the problem is that - many sufferers with depression have vastly reduced capacity to engage in exercise or social contact; - depression often damages the relationships of sufferers.
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Date: 2007-06-04 09:47 am (UTC)The hope with medication is to reduce the duration and severity of suffering, so that some of those folks can get their lives back after one month instead of 24.
Exercise and social contact have wonderful, positive effects, but the problem is that
- many sufferers with depression have vastly reduced capacity to engage in exercise or social contact;
- depression often damages the relationships of sufferers.
It's a difficult problem.