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Abstract
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the impact of depression on people with cancer, available studies were very few and of low quality. This review found very low quality evidence for the effects of these drugs compared with placebo. On the basis of these results clear implications for practice cannot be made. The use of antidepressants in people with cancer should be considered on an individual basis and, considering the lack of head-to-head data, the choice of which agent should be prescribed may be based on the data on antidepressant efficacy in the general population of individuals with major depression, also taking into account that data on medically ill patients suggest a positive safety profile for the SSRIs. Large, simple, randomised, pragmatic trials comparing commonly used antidepressants versus placebo in people with cancer with depressive symptoms, with or without a formal diagnosis of a depressive disorder, are urgently needed to better inform clinical practice.
These comments were posted onto my personal Facebook page (Ann Equality Fonfa):
ReplyDeleteDepression - is it a Nutritional/Physical Activity issue?
"Large, simple, randomised, pragmatic trials comparing commonly used antidepressants versus placebo in people with cancer with depressive symptoms, with or without a formal diagnosis of a depressive disorder, are urgently needed to better inform clinical practice."
I disagree with the idea of antidepressants versus placebo BECAUSE the goal of ALL clinical trials ought to be to HELP people. What if eating real (organic whenever possible) fresh fruits/veggies, taking a walk (hopefully outside), enjoying a moment (or more) each day, would lead to less depression? How will we know when the system persists in focusing on DRUGS?
Additionally, are there MORE depressed people in our modern time? Is it due to lack of essential fatty acids, B vitamins, sunlight, pollution, gut bacteria loss, etc.? Or are we sadder than our ancestors? I just don't think so.