[slantedview]

My understanding with SSRIs and other depression meds is that they are hit and miss for anyone. I have a family member who, as a teen, suffered from severe depression and didn't want to live. Therapy wasn't able to help - it was actually the therapist who recommended more drastic measures such as medication. And so they tried Prozac and that worked. Having seen the reversal myself, it's hard to understand how this is placebo.

[undeveloper]

It is extremely hit and miss. My understanding is that for those with "shit life syndrome", prozac is generally ineffective, but for those with genetic predispositions it can be extremely helpful. the catch is that the two are not exclusive, and those with genetic predispositions to depression may never have it, and people with bad life circumstances may feel more stable mentally with prozac and better equipped to tackle life's challenges.

[thisislife2]

The placebo effect ( https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-power-... )? (In the context we are discussing it, Prozac could be considered as an active placebo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_placebo ).