Oh research is often a very flawed process, I learnt as a student that depending on the design set you could quite often justify the hypothesis hence generally I laugh at most of the articles I read.
I first started nursing in the mid 1970's and not general nursing due to experiences growing up my vocation was in the area of mental health. (Before the days of care in the community we had wonderful places called mental hospitals excuse the un PC use of the word mental). Although a large majority of our patients were psycho geriatrics, we also had a large intake from Broadmoor (psychiatric hospital for the criminal insane) for life time care. At the far end of the buildings were clinics treating patients for depression, breakdowns etc, apart from ECT drug therapy accounted for 80% of the care programme.
Most of the patients treated for depression had a very successful recovery rate through this method of treatment so I do have faith in the use of anti depressants. Although I have my questions and doubts about long term side effects of SSRI's from my own experiences they work very well. I could be wrong however, I do believe one of the reasons for the development of SSRI's was to allow people to continue life within the community during the treatment process. As I said although the drug therapy programme previously was successful in treating depression, the type of drugs used back then were horrid and required in patient care as a result of the serious side effects.
I would never discount the use of CBT in treating the depression for what ever reason this illness develops but, in a cost driven health service SSRI's will always be given first and formost to reduce the cost.
On a lighter note Tex, yep yesterday's posting was that I have been awake all night

Oh the joys of steriod side effects!