For days the headlines have been screaming that depression is associated with sudden cardiac disease and death in women. Today this study perhaps tells us more!
From MedScape today:
A new analysis has found that major depression predicted cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study [1]. The hazard ratios were strongest for fatal events and were driven by the association of depression–in particular, antidepressant use–with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Dr William Whang (Columbia University, New York, NY) and colleagues report their findings in the March 17, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The next line in the article is:
But the authors and accompanying editorialists conclude that, at the present time, the benefits of appropriately prescribed antidepressant use likely outweigh the risk of SCD.
Yeah, you guys keep on kidding yourselves. It’s real good for you and your pocketbooks.
I tried to get the article but it hasn’t come out yet. Just goes to show you how they release the results in advance of publication so the media will portray it in whatever way the authors want it portrayed without giving others the chance to critically evaluate it.
Did you ever see that movie called Joe Somebody – with Tim Allen and he worked for a pharmaceutical co. and they would run the ads in that movie – “And sometimes death!”
I find it interesting how they contradict themselves!