Posted by Kathy on September 9, 1999, at 4:50:24
In reply to Anti-Placebo Effect, posted by Kathy on September 8, 1999, at 5:49:56
> Does anyone have any thoughts on whether your mind can make an antidepressant drug NOT work? I have failed to respond to a multitude of drugs and my ex-therapist more or less implied that this was because of my belief that I don`t deserve to improve and fears about how my life would change if I did. On the one hand it makes sense that if there can be a placebo effect there can also be an anti-placebo effect--on the other hand surely negative thoughts and beliefs are an inherent part of depression so in a way it`s blaming the victim.
Actually it was my "talk" therapist (a clinical social worker in private practice) who said this.I don`t know whether the doctorwho prescribes my meds thinks anything will help or not--he~s the head pychiatrist of my HMO and so far he`s been willing to prescribe whatever I want to try next, even if he has to getspecial permission from the HMO to cover it--but I don`t know what he thinks--a doctor can hardly say to a patient-"Nothing`s going to help you-you might as well go home and kill yourself." (Though what my "talk' therapist said came close-after 632 sessions over 7 years she told me "I can`t help you-you obviously need to be depressed."
poster:Kathy
thread:11227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991028/msgs/11280.html