---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's take something like antidepressant…"
description: "\"Let's take something like antidepressant medications. There's decent science saying it has an effect, but it's shockingly small after you control for p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/steven-c-hayes-19351_blind_let-s-take-something-like-antidepressant_1994144.png"
---

#  Let's take something like antidepressant medications…

![“Let's take something like antidepressant medications. There's decent science saying it has an effect, but it's shockingly small after you control for penetration of the blind, people knowing that they're getting the active pills versus sugar pills, if you use an active control. It's probably only…” quote by Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/steven-c-hayes-19351_blind_let-s-take-something-like-antidepressant_1994144.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/steven-c-hayes-19351_blind_let-s-take-something-like-antidepressant_1994144.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/steven-c-hayes-19351_blind_let-s-take-something-like-antidepressant_1994144.png)

> “Let's take something like antidepressant medications. There's decent science saying it has an effect, but it's shockingly small after you control for penetration of the blind, people knowing that they're getting the active pills versus sugar pills, if you use an active control. It's probably only a few points. But it's a multi, multibillion-dollar industry. And by the way, has huge side effects. 40 percent of the people taking them have significant sexual side effects. And that's just one. A single antidepressant medication can be worth a billion dollars to a company.”

[Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Antidepressants have modest efficacy, yet generate massive profit and notable side effects, highlighting profit‑driven healthcare.

**In simple terms:** Antidepressants work a little, cost a lot, cause side effects.

Key Takeaway

Weigh benefits against costs and side effects.

Themes

healthcare pharma ethics effectiveness profit

Mood

cautious critical

Type

medical ethical

When to use this quote

- clinical practice
- policy making
- patient counseling
- insurance
- research

Key Concepts

evidence‑based medicine risk‑benefit analysis industry influence

Questions to Reflect On

- Are we over‑relying on medication?
- How can we improve treatment safety?

A Different Perspective

Profit motives may bias research and prescribing.

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[Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/)

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