New Meta-Analyses Shows Anti-Depressants Are Not Much Better Than Placebo

In spite of the known negative side effects (pdf) of modifying the reuptake of serotonin in people's bodies, a new meta analysis of multiple SSRI drug trials shows the drugs are not really any better than placebo for most people. The conclusion of this meta analysis is telling:

Drug–placebo differences in antidepressant efficacy increase as a function of baseline severity, but are relatively small even for severely depressed patients. The relationship between initial severity and antidepressant efficacy is attributable to decreased responsiveness to placebo among very severely depressed patients, rather than to increased responsiveness to medication.

So the differences in effectiveness of the drugs between severely and moderately depressed people was not due to the drugs effectiveness, but due to the ineffectiveness of placebo in severely depressed people.

With all this bad news, it's no wonder the drug companies are now trying to sell these drugs to your dog and cat.