Antidepressants Quote by Irving Kirsch
““For people who are depressed, and especially for those who do not receive enough benefit from medication of for whom the side effects of antidepressants are troubling, the fact that placebos can duplicate much of the effects of antidepressants should be taken as good news. It means that there are other ways of alleviating depression. As we have seen, treatments like psychotherapy and physical exercise are at least as effective as antidepressant drugs and more effective than placebos. In particular, CBT has been shown to lower the risk of relapsing into depression for years after treatment has ended, making it particularly cost effective.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on depression treatments, 2015
Placebo effects show non‑pharmacological methods can match or exceed antidepressants, highlighting alternatives like therapy and exercise.
In simple terms: Non‑drug treatments can work as well as meds.
Key Takeaway
Explore therapy and exercise for depression.
Themes
mental health
treatment alternatives
efficacy
cost‑effectiveness
Mood
hopeful
analytical
Type
informative
clinical
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- patient self‑care
- health policy
Key Concepts
psychology
neuroscience
behavioral therapy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can clinicians integrate therapy and exercise effectively?
- What barriers exist for patients accessing non‑drug treatments?
A Different Perspective
Placebos may not work for severe cases without professional guidance.
![“Historically in the literature CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] was inappropriately touted as a cure for patients with ME/CFS if they changed their “belief system”. ME/CFS is a physical illness and not a psychological illness, therefore CBT cannot cure ME/ CFS. What CBT can do is to help…” quote by Alison C. Bested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ea/alison-c-bested-63335_books_historically-in-the-literature-cbt-cogni_2076792.jpg)
