Irving Kirsch, Ph.D.

Incredible book that intersects a number of hot button topics beside depression and treating it - the influence of Big Pharma over studies, the routine coverups of trials showing 'bad' results and the cooperation between journals on this issue. There's a dead rot being exposed even though the book only deals with it tangentially. It very methodically goes through the metaanalysis Kirsch did using a complete picture that included FOIA requests for the data they tried to bury, and a number of show more objections, and experimental alternatives to try and suss out if and how antidepressants are effective. Spoiler; they're not.
From the reviews some seem to find it tedious when he systematically ticks off various experimental designs and questions, but I found it deeply compelling to have a laundry list of "but what if" and "have you tried" and "did you account for" questions pre-empted and answered.
Others seem to have a hard time believing so many people could be in cahoots to perpetuate what is essentially a billion dollar fraud. Yet we've seen in recent years revelations of how Big Pharma happily intentionally addicted millions to opiates they did not need and gleefully joked about the consequences, as the billions in profits kept raking in. If they're willing to kill to make a buck, knowingly hawking ineffective drugs is saintlike in comparison.

Most importantly the death of the neurotransmitter view of depression means something much more important; the real cause(s) of depression are yet to be found. show less

Do I really need to say it? Big pharma is horrifying and the world is corrupted.
I just loved hearing that a medication I used to be on (citalopram) had various studies showing it’s complete ineffectiveness compared to placebo pills—but those got swept under the rug. I actually have taken multiple medications mentioned by Kirsch, and look back on those experiences with disdain.
I don’t know exactly how I feel about all of the claims made in this book, but it was still worth reading. If show more anything, you will learn about the cherrypicked data and skewed science that results from the greed and dishonorable principles of these large pharmaceutical companies.
Now that I have the studies drilled into my brain, I definitely want to read a book about the psychology of the placebo effect.
I also had no idea that the whole “chemical imbalance in the brain” thing was a theory and not concrete fact. So there’s that. show less

Interesting, but poorly written.

A signal boost rating for important work. See also Ben Goldacre.