Tag: Pharmaceutical drug

A brain disease AND (fill in the blank)

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 4 Comments

    Not addiction related, but a very interesting look at  new directions for treating and understanding schizophrenia.   The article opens by reflecting on where we stand with our attempts to understand the causes:   ...the outcome of two decades of serious psychiatric science is that schizophrenia now appears to be a complex outcome … Continue reading A brain disease AND (fill in the blank)

We’re not alone

~ Jason Schwartz

Pat Deegan linked to a report on the state of treatment for schizophrenia for medicaid recipients. Although there was some state-to-state variation in the findings, the study found that, while more than 90 percent of beneficiaries with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder received an evidence-based medication during the year, only 61 percent of those beneficiaries continuously … Continue reading We’re not alone

Following the evidence

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 5 Comments

Ouch: Abstract: This paper raises the question about whether the data on the medications we call antidepressants justify the label of antidepressant. The authors argue that a true antidepressant should be clearly superior to placebo, should offer a risk/benefit balance that exceeds that of alternative treatments, should not increase suicidality, should not increase anxiety and … Continue reading Following the evidence

Coming of Age on Zoloft

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 3 Comments

An interesting take on anti-depressants from a writer who has benefited from them: The mainstreaming of medication has bred confusion about what’s normal. In some sectors, we’ve grown so vigilant about the possibility of having a mental disorder that this vigilance becomes counterproductive, a source of anxiety in itself. Every negative emotion becomes a potential sign or … Continue reading Coming of Age on Zoloft