Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

[Guest guest]

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM

Anonymous

Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed antidepressants'

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

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Add to My Stories

A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a hormone receptor in the brain

Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression and anxiety.

However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help half of the people who take them.

Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft, work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy hormone' - in the brain.

It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they were able to reverse the effect.

Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too much. It puts too much brake on the system.

'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to transform a non-responder into a responder.'

Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an antidepressant.

It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to benefit from conventional antidepressants.

'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the non-responders,' he said.

The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depressionRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

[Guest guest]

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM

Anonymous

Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed antidepressants'

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

Comments (6)

Add to My Stories

A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a hormone receptor in the brain

Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression and anxiety.

However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help half of the people who take them.

Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft, work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy hormone' - in the brain.

It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they were able to reverse the effect.

Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too much. It puts too much brake on the system.

'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to transform a non-responder into a responder.'

Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an antidepressant.

It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to benefit from conventional antidepressants.

'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the non-responders,' he said.

The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depressionRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

[Guest guest]

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM

Anonymous

Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed antidepressants'

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

Comments (6)

Add to My Stories

A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a hormone receptor in the brain

Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression and anxiety.

However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help half of the people who take them.

Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft, work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy hormone' - in the brain.

It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they were able to reverse the effect.

Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too much. It puts too much brake on the system.

'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to transform a non-responder into a responder.'

Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an antidepressant.

It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to benefit from conventional antidepressants.

'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the non-responders,' he said.

The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depressionRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

[Guest guest]

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM

Anonymous

Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed antidepressants'

Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

Comments (6)

Add to My Stories

A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a hormone receptor in the brain

Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression and anxiety.

However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help half of the people who take them.

Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft, work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy hormone' - in the brain.

It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they were able to reverse the effect.

Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too much. It puts too much brake on the system.

'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to transform a non-responder into a responder.'

Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an antidepressant.

It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to benefit from conventional antidepressants.

'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the non-responders,' he said.

The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depressionRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

[Guest guest]

My take on this is that it is a pathetic attempt to sell 'genetic testing' to

make sure that you should take the drug. OK. They concede that the drug is the

same as placebo, now they sell the 'genetic testing' that will tell you whether

or not the drug is for you.

I am cynical, but I see the next industry this leads to. Pharma will come up

with genes that dictate treatment. They will partner with a biotech company and

pump out market driven articles selling not only the drug, but the test for the

drug.

Maybe I am not so much cynical as experienced.

N8

>

> Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily

> Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM Anonymous

>

> Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed

> antidepressants'

> <http://www.network54.com/Forum/281849/message/1263486694/Millions+of+pa\

> tients+%27should+not+be+prescribed+antidepressants%27> Why

> anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

> By Daily Mail Reporter

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y & authornamef=Daily+Mail+\

> Reporter>

> Last updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

>

> * Comments (6)

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#comments> * Add to My Stories

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html>

>

>

> [depressed woman]

> A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a

> hormone receptor in the brain

>

> Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression

> and anxiety.

>

>

> However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help

> half of the people who take them.

>

> Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York

> suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

>

>

> Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft,

> work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy

> hormone' - in the brain.

>

> It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the

> brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

>

> Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one

> type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs

> fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

>

>

> When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they

> were able to reverse the effect.

>

>

> Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these

> (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too

> much. It puts too much brake on the system.

>

> 'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to

> transform a non-responder into a responder.'

>

> Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could

> give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an

> antidepressant.

>

> It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help

> identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to

> benefit from conventional antidepressants.

>

> 'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the

> non-responders,' he said.

>

>

> The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with

> depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depression

>

>

> Read more:

> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-h\

> elp-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ>

>

[Guest guest]

My take on this is that it is a pathetic attempt to sell 'genetic testing' to

make sure that you should take the drug. OK. They concede that the drug is the

same as placebo, now they sell the 'genetic testing' that will tell you whether

or not the drug is for you.

I am cynical, but I see the next industry this leads to. Pharma will come up

with genes that dictate treatment. They will partner with a biotech company and

pump out market driven articles selling not only the drug, but the test for the

drug.

Maybe I am not so much cynical as experienced.

N8

>

> Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily

> Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM Anonymous

>

> Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed

> antidepressants'

> <http://www.network54.com/Forum/281849/message/1263486694/Millions+of+pa\

> tients+%27should+not+be+prescribed+antidepressants%27> Why

> anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

> By Daily Mail Reporter

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y & authornamef=Daily+Mail+\

> Reporter>

> Last updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

>

> * Comments (6)

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#comments> * Add to My Stories

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html>

>

>

> [depressed woman]

> A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a

> hormone receptor in the brain

>

> Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression

> and anxiety.

>

>

> However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help

> half of the people who take them.

>

> Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York

> suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

>

>

> Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft,

> work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy

> hormone' - in the brain.

>

> It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the

> brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

>

> Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one

> type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs

> fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

>

>

> When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they

> were able to reverse the effect.

>

>

> Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these

> (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too

> much. It puts too much brake on the system.

>

> 'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to

> transform a non-responder into a responder.'

>

> Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could

> give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an

> antidepressant.

>

> It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help

> identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to

> benefit from conventional antidepressants.

>

> 'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the

> non-responders,' he said.

>

>

> The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with

> depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depression

>

>

> Read more:

> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-h\

> elp-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ>

>

[Guest guest]

My take on this is that it is a pathetic attempt to sell 'genetic testing' to

make sure that you should take the drug. OK. They concede that the drug is the

same as placebo, now they sell the 'genetic testing' that will tell you whether

or not the drug is for you.

I am cynical, but I see the next industry this leads to. Pharma will come up

with genes that dictate treatment. They will partner with a biotech company and

pump out market driven articles selling not only the drug, but the test for the

drug.

Maybe I am not so much cynical as experienced.

N8

>

> Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily

> Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM Anonymous

>

> Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed

> antidepressants'

> <http://www.network54.com/Forum/281849/message/1263486694/Millions+of+pa\

> tients+%27should+not+be+prescribed+antidepressants%27> Why

> anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

> By Daily Mail Reporter

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y & authornamef=Daily+Mail+\

> Reporter>

> Last updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

>

> * Comments (6)

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#comments> * Add to My Stories

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html>

>

>

> [depressed woman]

> A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a

> hormone receptor in the brain

>

> Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression

> and anxiety.

>

>

> However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help

> half of the people who take them.

>

> Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York

> suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

>

>

> Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft,

> work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy

> hormone' - in the brain.

>

> It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the

> brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

>

> Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one

> type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs

> fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

>

>

> When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they

> were able to reverse the effect.

>

>

> Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these

> (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too

> much. It puts too much brake on the system.

>

> 'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to

> transform a non-responder into a responder.'

>

> Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could

> give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an

> antidepressant.

>

> It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help

> identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to

> benefit from conventional antidepressants.

>

> 'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the

> non-responders,' he said.

>

>

> The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with

> depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depression

>

>

> Read more:

> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-h\

> elp-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ>

>

[Guest guest]

My take on this is that it is a pathetic attempt to sell 'genetic testing' to

make sure that you should take the drug. OK. They concede that the drug is the

same as placebo, now they sell the 'genetic testing' that will tell you whether

or not the drug is for you.

I am cynical, but I see the next industry this leads to. Pharma will come up

with genes that dictate treatment. They will partner with a biotech company and

pump out market driven articles selling not only the drug, but the test for the

drug.

Maybe I am not so much cynical as experienced.

N8

>

> Why anti-depressants only help half the people who take themBy Daily

> Mail ReporterJanuary 14 2010 at 4:33 PM Anonymous

>

> Response to Millions of patients 'should not be prescribed

> antidepressants'

> <http://www.network54.com/Forum/281849/message/1263486694/Millions+of+pa\

> tients+%27should+not+be+prescribed+antidepressants%27> Why

> anti-depressants only help half the people who take them

> By Daily Mail Reporter

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y & authornamef=Daily+Mail+\

> Reporter>

> Last updated at 12:12 PM on 14th January 2010

>

> * Comments (6)

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#comments> * Add to My Stories

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html>

>

>

> [depressed woman]

> A new study suggests antidepressants may not work for many because of a

> hormone receptor in the brain

>

> Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment for depression

> and anxiety.

>

>

> However, scientists have long been stumped as to why they fail to help

> half of the people who take them.

>

> Now a new study from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York

> suggests the answer may lie in a hormone receptor in the brain.

>

>

> Most anti-depressants, including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft,

> work by increasing the amount of serotonin - often labelled the 'happy

> hormone' - in the brain.

>

> It is a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the middle of the

> brain by cells known as raphe neurons.

>

> Researchers found genetically engineered mice who had too much of one

> type of serotonin receptor, were far less likely to respond to the drugs

> fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.

>

>

> When they reduced the number of receptors - or molecular doorways - they

> were able to reverse the effect.

>

>

> Lead author Rene Hen said: 'These receptors dampen the activity of these

> (serotonin-producing) neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too

> much. It puts too much brake on the system.

>

> 'By simply tweaking the number of receptors down, we were able to

> transform a non-responder into a responder.'

>

> Professor Hen said the finding, reported in the journal Neuron, could

> give doctors an idea of whether a patient will respond to an

> antidepressant.

>

> It could also help drug makers populate better clinical trials to help

> identify new drug compounds that work for people who are unlikely to

> benefit from conventional antidepressants.

>

> 'The goal is to figure out something that is useful for the

> non-responders,' he said.

>

>

> The NHS estimates around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with

> depression and/or anxiety. One in 50 has severe depression

>

>

> Read more:

> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-h\

> elp-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ

> <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243140/Why-anti-depressants-\

> help-half-people-them.html#ixzz0cbZxXKzJ>

>