Antidepressants Have Little Effect

Shannon Weidemann

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A study in the New England Journal of Medicine is reporting that many antidepressants do not work. The antidepressant study was performed by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University. They based their data on 74 studies that had been submitted to the FDA.

The study shows that of the 74 studies registered with the Food and Drug Administration from 1987 through 2004, 38 were deemed positive, and all but one were published, the report said.

But of the 36 studies found to have negative or questionable results by the FDA, 22 were not published. And of the 14 that were published, researchers said at least 11 "mischaracterized" results by putting a positive spin on them, the report said.

Many doctors review these reports in order to decide on the best course of treatment for their patients. Critcs argue that doctors are not receiving all sides of the data.

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