if only they could be targeted at specific parts of the brian.
Which is precisely the problem. At present all out knowledge is based on trying things and seeing what works and what doesn't. We lack a sufficient model to be able to make many predictions beyond supposing that similar chemical compounds will behave similarly (even guessing how similar or how they'll differ is beyond us).
Which is not to say that drugs are ineffective. They can be quite effective for many in the population. The problem is that because we don't fully understand the mechanisms behind how they work and so are unable to narrowly target the sources of depression, there are many side effects. Since how severely those side effects alter one's life are subjective, just as with the depression itself, only individuals can decide whether the costs are "worth it".
As an example, most antidepressants have the side effect of diminishing libido. How much that will affect one is going to depend on hat their libido was like beforehand (too depressed to have one, too horny to think straight,...) as well as how much of their identity they base on their sexuality.
For some people the side effects are irrelevant or barely noticed, for others the cure is worse than the disease.
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chiming
Re: Suicide et al.
Date: 2006-08-01 08:15 am (UTC)From:Which is precisely the problem. At present all out knowledge is based on trying things and seeing what works and what doesn't. We lack a sufficient model to be able to make many predictions beyond supposing that similar chemical compounds will behave similarly (even guessing how similar or how they'll differ is beyond us).
Which is not to say that drugs are ineffective. They can be quite effective for many in the population. The problem is that because we don't fully understand the mechanisms behind how they work and so are unable to narrowly target the sources of depression, there are many side effects. Since how severely those side effects alter one's life are subjective, just as with the depression itself, only individuals can decide whether the costs are "worth it".
As an example, most antidepressants have the side effect of diminishing libido. How much that will affect one is going to depend on hat their libido was like beforehand (too depressed to have one, too horny to think straight,...) as well as how much of their identity they base on their sexuality.
For some people the side effects are irrelevant or barely noticed, for others the cure is worse than the disease.