criticisms

• patient not in control

  -place control in doctors hands

  -therapy give them control
• side effects


  -common : nausea, headaches, insomnia

  -tricyclic antidepressants have serious side effects:

  > 1 in 10 = erection problems, tremors & weight gain

  > 1 in 100 = aggressive & suffer from disruption to heart rate

  -drugs may not be appropriate for all patients
• drugs treat symptoms 


  -don't treat cause of illness

  -when patient stops taking drugs the symptoms will return within few weeks

  -only provide short term solution

  -psychological treatment such as CBT offer more long term cure
• publication bias


  -issues with studies showing effectiveness of drugs

  -some argue the positive findings are result of publication bias

  -negative or neutral results often not published

  -accusations made about research funded by drug companies

  -research funded by these companies more likely to find favourable results

  -drug companies actively suppressing damaging findings??
• who may be actively suppressing damaging findings about drugs?

  drug companies