Antidepressants are Little Help for Most

A study analyzing the results of 47 clinical trials of antidepressants found that the pills are barely more effective than placebos in treating most people with depression. The review investigates data from trials that were conducted before the drugs were approved in the US and concludes that only patients who are at the upper end of the severely depressed category get any meaningful benefit from taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class drugs. Manufacturers of these drugs dispute the study’s conclusion, arguing that "extensive scientific and medical experience" have shown that SSRI drugs like Prozac are effective anti-depressants.