Posted by Cam W. on February 19, 2001, at 14:25:39
In reply to Re: ??s raised in Active..., posted by niborr on February 19, 2001, at 11:32:06
Nibor - I am terribly sorry for the insinuations. I really respect people who do help others for free. I do not believe that people should profit off of people with chronic illness (I also disagree with the "for profit" approach of community pharmacy, but I am a community pharmacist - but would never own a store), but hey, I can't change the world and we have seen that communism doesn't work if the people won't.
Most websites are "for profit" as well, and my "knee-jerk" reaction was wrong. I have read your posts and believe you when you say that Dick is not like most others, who hawk "cures" for mental disorders online.
•I apologize here and, if you wouldn't mind, would you apologize to Dick for me•.
I do agree that, in themselves, antidepressants are not a "cure". There are no cures in pharmacy. I also don't believe, in many cases, that psychotherapy alone will work in major depressive disorder. There is proof of both therapies working and my point to dj was the proof is out there in the "hundreds, if not thousands, or journal articles". dj had seemed to imply that not enough research went into psychotherapies because of the influence of major drug companies and I was trying to say that the research has been done.
Our thinking on depression has to change. We have to come to the realization that, in most cases, depression IS as chronic condition, like diabetes. The difference between depression and diabetes is, is that depression is usually periodic in nature and not a constantly occuring disorder.
We have the tools to separate out the different sub-types of depression and their causes, but until some smart cookie comes along with a method of using our science to differentiate these causes, we will need to use our indirect methods of fixing the biochemical malfunction. Both drugs and psychotherapy can correct this malfunction, but the trick is to KEEP it corrected; to prevent recurrences and relapses.
I also agree that most GPs are ill-equipped to deal with patients who have depression, especially depression that have comorbid illnesses. In my little part of the world I am trying to change this (and yes, I too am paid for my lectures; they are part of my job). by giving presentations to GPs in small towns. The drug companies may pay for the hotel room, gas and a meal (to entice the GPs to come - which also gives me a different type of gas), but other than that, I get very few stipends from drug companies (although I did get a cool cordless screwdriver from a drug company about 10 years ago).
I have been paid by drug companies for two presentations I did give, but after all the research and writing it up, the honorarium added up to about 50¢/hour. So, the "paid lecture" comment was really unfair, on my part.
Again, I apologize to Dick; and maybe, if I ever catch up on my work, will read his book. I am definitely going to look at the website more closely now. If Dick would like to bounce a few ideas off of me or needs a couple of article references, I'd be glad to oblige (esp. since I trashed him in my last post).
Sincerely - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:4748
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010209/msgs/4764.html