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Study Causes A Stir
Controversial Findings Cast Doubt On Anti-Depressants
Matt Lin
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News
People who think anti-depressants are a cure-all for depression might be surprised to learn about the results of a recent study.
The study, led by emeritus UConn Clinical Psychology Professor Dr. Irving Kirsch and supported by meta-analysis application from Social Psychology Professor Blair T. Johnson and Post-Doctoral Associate Tania B. Huedo-Medina, has generated great interest in the scientific community and beyond. This study, published on Feb. 26, revealed from previous clinical research data - both published and unpublished - that new-generation anti-depressants lack clinical significant efficacy for all patients except those who are very severely depressed, when compared against placebo trials.
This study utilizes a new approach of pooling data that was previously unreleased by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Due to the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), researchers have gained access to clinical research data that were not previously readily available.
Kirsch approached Johnson during the publication process to enhance the statistical portions of the study. Johnson invited his associate, Huedo-Medina, to join the team as well.
"[Kirsch] was doing some meta-analysis before, using the same database, but they couldn't test whether or not the efficacy of anti-depressants is dependent on the severity of depression," Huedo-Medina said. She explained that Kirsch needed someone who has been trained in state of the art of meta-analysis techniques.
"He and his collaborators thought that this pattern was there but they were surprised at just how clear the picture was after we used meta-analytic techniques, so bringing us onto the team helped make the picture clearer," Johnson said.
Data sets from 47 separate clinical trials - from both the U.S. and UK - were included in this meta-analysis, which is a statistical method that pools the results of independent studies on a topic. Of the 47 trials, nine were not previously published by the FDA for reasons unknown.
The study, led by emeritus UConn Clinical Psychology Professor Dr. Irving Kirsch and supported by meta-analysis application from Social Psychology Professor Blair T. Johnson and Post-Doctoral Associate Tania B. Huedo-Medina, has generated great interest in the scientific community and beyond. This study, published on Feb. 26, revealed from previous clinical research data - both published and unpublished - that new-generation anti-depressants lack clinical significant efficacy for all patients except those who are very severely depressed, when compared against placebo trials.
This study utilizes a new approach of pooling data that was previously unreleased by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Due to the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), researchers have gained access to clinical research data that were not previously readily available.
Kirsch approached Johnson during the publication process to enhance the statistical portions of the study. Johnson invited his associate, Huedo-Medina, to join the team as well.
"[Kirsch] was doing some meta-analysis before, using the same database, but they couldn't test whether or not the efficacy of anti-depressants is dependent on the severity of depression," Huedo-Medina said. She explained that Kirsch needed someone who has been trained in state of the art of meta-analysis techniques.
"He and his collaborators thought that this pattern was there but they were surprised at just how clear the picture was after we used meta-analytic techniques, so bringing us onto the team helped make the picture clearer," Johnson said.
Data sets from 47 separate clinical trials - from both the U.S. and UK - were included in this meta-analysis, which is a statistical method that pools the results of independent studies on a topic. Of the 47 trials, nine were not previously published by the FDA for reasons unknown.
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overprescription
posted 3/25/08 @ 2:21 PM EST
antidepressants are too overprescribed to do anything. drugs like lexapro are the biggest joke, and this is coming from a pharmacy student and employee. (Continued…)
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