Prozac? No need. Have yourself a Pez, instead:

A new analysis has found that in the majority of trials conducted by drug companies in recent decades, sugar pills have done as well as — or better than — antidepressants. Companies have had to conduct numerous trials to get two that show a positive result, which is the Food and Drug Administration’s minimum for approval.

What’s more, the sugar pills, or placebos, cause profound changes in the same areas of the brain affected by the medicines, according to research published last week. One researcher has ruefully concluded that a higher percentage of depressed patients get better on placebos today than 20 years ago.

Related: Ritalin? Pshaw. Just slap the unruly kid on his spoiled-li’l ass with a rubber-souled shoe. Then threaten to cut off his Playstation privileges if he doesn’t “sit down and shut up” on command.

[link via Myria]

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