A new, large scale British study investigated the effectiveness of 64 medications on 28 disorders. This included 16 psychiatric medications and 8 disorders. The researchers used an unbiased statistical analysis. The efficacy (effectiveness) of all medications were measured at exactly equal. Antidepressants work as well as antibiotics and antihypertensive medications to a blinded researcher.

The use of medications in psychiatry, particularly in children, stirs up strong reactions. In psychiatry, neorochemical disorders are not the only reason for problems, as unresolved past conflicts and maladaptive reponses to stress make up a large share of symptoms. A Psychiatrists role is to differentiate the cause. But a person with a genetic, biologic brain chemistry disorder is as likely to respond to proper medicines as a person suffering from pneumonia is to respond to antibiotics. Statistics tell the unbiased truth.

The best outcomes in Psychiatry are combining medication with therapy, both individual and family. A broader assessment is always indicated. But it is time to confront the biases about the proper usages of psychiatric medications to encourage access to those in need.