Re: "The Antidepressant Withdrawal" — Letters that should have been in the new york times

To the editor:

(Re. 'The antidepressant withdrawal', 4.17.18) Psychotherapy is a credible, evidence based treatment for mild to moderate Major Depression and a valuable adjunct to medication for severe Major Depression where suicide is a distinct risk. There are many reasons anti-depressants have been over prescribed. As you report drug companies have historically played an important role with aggressive lobbying efforts, direct to consumer advertising and funding academic research in ways that biased outcome. Diminished stigma to mental illness has been a complicated factor making treatment more acceptable to people who have shunned care. Most important, from my perspective, has been the cultural trend to value the quick fix, devalue talk therapy (really conversation in any form) and to have an insurance industry that is largely antagonistic to the legitimate role of psychotherapy to treat mental illness.

Respectfully

Larry S. Sandberg MD