Antidepressants useless for mild or moderate depression

By Jimmy Down

A new review study in the Jan 2010 issue of the journal of American Medical Association suggests that antidepressants are useless for treating mild or moderate depression.

The study found the efficacy of antidepressants varied with the severity of depression and the most significant efficacy was found in those who suffered severe depressive symptoms.

Jay C Fournier of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues reviewed six trials of 718 patients whose severity of depression at baseline varied from mild to severe.

The researchers found the efficacy depended substantially on the baseline severity of depressive symptoms.

The studies reviewed were reported between Jan 1980 and March 2009.

Depression affects 5.3 percent or 14.4 million people in the United States.

Certain types of antidepressants like SSRIs have been associated with increased risk of violence and suicidal thoughts.

Recent studies suggest sufficient sleep and vitamin d supplementation may help relieve depression.