The Reckoning in Psychiatry Over Protracted Antidepressant Withdrawal

19
Medically-induced harm—affecting tens of millions of people worldwide—has taken the field decades to take seriously.
Ad for Paxil/Seroxat

How Academic Psychiatry Minimized SSRI Withdrawal

8
If academic psychiatry is evidence-based, why did it take two decades to recognize SSRI withdrawal as widespread and chronic among patients?

Researchers: Antidepressant Withdrawal, Not “Discontinuation Syndrome”

20
Researchers suggest that the pharmaceutical industry had a vested interest in using the term “discontinuation” in order to hide the severity of physical dependence and withdrawal reactions many people experience from antidepressants.
one yellow game piece among blue game pieces

Is There a Small Group for Whom Antidepressants Are Effective?

27
In a new study, researchers found no evidence of antidepressant group variance, which means that there's no particular group of patients who improve more than others on the drug.
empty medical waiting room

Higher Drop-Out Rates for Those Taking Antidepressants

2
A review of 73 antidepressant studies finds that 12% more people drop out of clinical trials when taking antidepressants than when taking placebo, evidence that many find the adverse effects of antidepressants difficult to tolerate.
colorful painting of brain

Researchers Fail to Predict Antidepressant Treatment Success

34
In a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers investigated whether they could use EEG (electroencephalograph) technology to predict whether people would feel better...

Researchers Set the Record Straight on Controversial Zoloft Study

1
An issue of Lancet Psychiatry is devoted to clarifying the lack of efficacy for Zoloft (sertraline).

How Antidepressants Shape Young Women’s Sense of Self

17
Young women’s narratives indicate ways antidepressants have shaped their sense of self.

No Matter Which Measure You Use, Antidepressants Aren’t That Effective

18
Researchers compared the efficacy of antidepressants using different rating scales and found them to be no different—just slightly better than placebo, and not meeting the criteria for clinical significance.

Psychotherapy Less Effective for People in Poverty and Those on Antidepressants

13
A new study finds poorer depression and anxiety outcomes in psychotherapy for people in economically deprived neighborhoods and those on antidepressants.

Increased Antidepressant Use Does Not Decrease Depression Prevalence in Older Adults

4
The use of antidepressants has risen quickly among older adults but the rate of depressive symptoms in this population has not declined as a result.

Fear and Belief in “Chemical Imbalance” Prevent People from Coming Off Antidepressants

13
Researchers interviewed people who were given medical advice to discontinue antidepressants.

Training Health Workers in Therapy Leads to Improvements and Less Medication Use

1
A Nigerian study finds that more than three-quarters of patients improved, even when only 13% were prescribed medication.

Fluoxetine Not Helpful for Children with Autism

3
A clinical trial finds Prozac no better than placebo for improving repetitive behaviors.

Researchers Challenge Evidence for Antidepressants in Youth

8
Researchers shed light on the precarious nature of evidence from efficacy trials of antidepressant medication to treat symptoms of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.

NICE Guideline Update Acknowledges Severe Antidepressant Withdrawal

6
A new update to the NICE guideline for depression suggests providers discuss long-term, severe antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.
the exposed belly of a pregnant woman

Study: Antidepressants Linked to Higher Gestational Diabetes Risk

0
From CNN: “Taking antidepressants while pregnant may be associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes, a new study suggests. It turned out that the...

Clinical Trials Show Antidepressants “Not Beneficial in the Long Term”

6
Clinical trials also consistently fail to measure and report long-term harmful effects.

Researchers: “Antidepressants Should Not be Used for Adults with Major Depressive Disorder”

7
A new review, published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, concludes that antidepressants should not be used as the risks outweigh evidence for benefits.

Zoloft Does Not Improve Depression, Even in Severe Cases, Study Finds

10
Despite their finding, the researchers suggest that SSRIs be given to people who do not meet criteria for depression or anxiety.

Antidepressant Use Associated With More Violent Suicide Attempts

10
A new study found that taking an antidepressant medication was associated with a heightened risk of suicide using violent means.

Antidepressant Use Does Not Prevent Suicide, Study Finds

6
A new study has found that antidepressants are ineffective for reducing suicide attempts. Researchers report that the risk of suicide is particularly high in the first month after starting an antidepressant.

Therapy Gets More Effective Over Time While Antidepressants Decrease in Effectiveness

6
New review of long-term depression data finds psychotherapy more effective over time whereas antidepressants decrease in effectiveness.
quitting antidepressants

Lingering Side Effects of Quitting Antidepressants

15
Nobody told me what it would be like when I first stopped taking antidepressants. The worst is definitely over, but I’m still experiencing some lingering side effects. When the hyper-arousal to sights and sounds kicks in and my head starts buzzing, I’ve learned some ways to cope.

The Media Scolds Marianne Williamson (And Gets It Wrong)

104
Journalists have called Marianne Williams’ comments on depression dangerous and irresponsible. A closer look reveals that her “opinions” on mental health treatment are more in line with the science, and that the know-it-all assertions by Cooper and colleagues are belied by it.