I am trying to make the proper connection between two pieces of information that we have been given. First of all, you said a little earlier that antidepressants often do not work because the treatment is interrupted before six months have elapsed. In fact, in the notes prepared by our researchers, Health Canada is quoted as saying that, in patients suffering from moderate depression, drugs are ineffective—that they have a placebo effect. So, I am wondering whether, when information seems contradictory at first sight, it's because there haven't been enough studies conducted in real life circumstances, or because every group of individuals is completely different. Last week, we heard from physicians. They told us that in terms of adverse drug effects, it is possible for there to be completely opposite effects—such as sleepiness and insomnia, constipation and diarrhea. Basically, we could study these things to death, but ultimately, we are talking about different individuals, and therefore different adverse effects in each case.
On March 11th, 2008. See this statement in context.