Something started me thinking about what Tom Cruise said about Brook Shields and the anti-depressant debacle. While double blind tests of anti-depressants have shown that they work against anxiety the debate as to how well they work, and how much of a solution they provide rages on.
For example, one study I read (and I must admit I have lost the link) consisted of one group of depressed patients being Celexa (citalopram) and the other group being given a placebo sugar pill. The results of the study? Celexa had a significant effect. Great, you might think. But when you look at the details you find that Celexa helped 60% of the depressed patients, while the placebo helped 50%! So much of Celexa’s success could have been down to the placebo effect!
Those who advocate SSRI’s often state that anxiety is a chemical imbalance which therefore must be corrected with other chemicals. This, I think, is a misconception. There may well be a chemical imbalance and SSRI’s and other medication may be able to temporarily correct this imbalance OR make it seem as though the balance is correct, however the balance has not been corrected and the problem is still there. The only exception to this is when the problem originates outside the body and passes naturally, as perhaps in the case of anxiety brought on by injury that causes temporary disability.
This quote from http://anxiety.wordpress.com/2006/01/30/these-are-the-anti-anxietydepression-medications-that-i-take/ shows how tempers tend to fray in this matter:
You have to be kidding…..this must be a pharmaceutical company’s doings. I don’t believe you are a single person writing this. How about a picture of yourself posted on your “blog”???
There is no, repeat absolutely NO proof that “anxiety” is caused by a “chemical imbalance”. Drugs are not the answer. You are doing a disservice to anxious people reading this! Paxil is highly addictive.
In fact, SSRI’s can and do help in many cases, it’s just a matter of what you are doing to find a permanent solution while you are taking this medication…The above response is typical of those for whom SSRI’s did little, and it is understandable. But perhaps they are the lucky ones though, because with drugs that change your mood how can you tell when your therapy is altering your mood? How can you tell when you are finding a permanent solution to your problems? I leave you with that dilemma!
Tom Cruise one of the finest actors and respected role and his cunning negotiation for his salary was his role in the LAST SAMERI. His work ethic impressed the sternest of Japanese stunt actors and Sword masters they actually applauded him for his work ethic and his excellence in his work.