Could ‘Treatment Resistance’ be an Effect of Antidepressants?

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Previously taking antidepressants could make individuals less likely to respond to treatment for bipolar II depression.

The ADHD Drug Abuse Crisis on College Campuses

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The abuse of ADHD drugs on college campuses has reached epidemic proportions, according to the authors of a recent review in the journal of Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry. ADHD drugs, like Ritalin and Adderall, have become so commonplace on college campuses that students abusing these drugs for studying, weight loss and partying have underestimated their risks. As a result, we have seen exponential increases in emergency room visits, overdoses, and suicides by students taking these drugs.

Identifying Psychiatric Drugs Leading to Emergency Room Visits

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More than ten-percent of adults in the United States are currently prescribed at least one psychiatric medication but there is currently a lack of research on the prevalence of adverse drug events (ADEs) associated with these prescriptions outside of clinical trials.

The Psychological Effects of the Zero-Tolerance Immigration Policy

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Journal releases a compilation of articles detailing how zero-tolerance policy may impact mental health.

We Need to pay Better Attention to Medication Side Effects

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FromĀ KevinMD.com: Doctors often fail to recognize that their patients' symptoms are side effects of medication. "Cognitive dissonance, a universalĀ human phenomenon, is based on the assumption...

Kids Diagnosed with Autism More Likely to Get Psychotropic Drugs

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Children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are much more likely to be prescribed a psychotropic medication.

Meta-Analysis Ties Gray Matter Loss to Antipsychotic Dose

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Antipsychotics are currently the predominant treatment for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, but there is an accumulating body of research that links the use of these drugs to structural abnormalities in the brain. A recent meta-analysis suggests that gray matter loss in the brain may depend on the dose and class of the antipsychotic.

Experts Concerned That Depression Screening Will Lead to Overdiagnosis

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Behind the U.S. task force recommendation to screen all children and adults for depression.

Researchers Ask, ā€˜Why Do Antidepressants Stop Working?’

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An international group of researchers, including several with financial ties to manufacturers of antidepressants, explore possible explanations for why long-term users of antidepressants become chronically depressed.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms

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Members of the group Benzodiazepine Recovery have created a video about the often debilitating symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Video →­

Lithium

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In this pieceĀ forĀ Healing Journey, Anne O'Beirne briefly summarizes the history of the medical usage of lithium and describes the impact that the drug has...

Popular Drug Reveals the Issue of “Off-Label” Use

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FromĀ The Washington Post: Despite major lawsuits and detailed reports pertaining to severe health risks associated with the antipsychotic Seroquel, the drug remains one of...

Review Finds Little Evidence that Electroconvulsive Therapy is Effective for Depression

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Researchers examined the dearth of support for Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depressive symptoms in light of studies detailing the associated risks.

ā€œIt Might Not Be Dementia—How Pharma for Seniors Can Go Seriously Wrongā€

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For Alternet, Martha Rosenberg discusses the dangers of overmedicating seniors and older adults. She interviews Dr. Harry Haroutunian about his new book, ā€œNot As...

ā€œProtect California Foster Youth from Dangerous Psychiatric Drugsā€

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The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports on legislation being passed in California to go after physicians who overprescribe psychiatric drugs to foster youth. The proposed legislation also targets government agencies that fail to offer nondrug alternative therapies to help foster youth recover from traumatic childhoods.

When Psychiatric Medications Cause Psychiatric Symptoms

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Dr. Yolande Lucire, a psychiatrist from Australia, recently published a paper about the iatrogenic effects of psychiatric drugs.

ā€œ6 Hospitalized, One of Them Brain-Dead, After Drug Trial in Franceā€

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Six men were hospitalized and one was pronounced brain dead after participating in a phase 1 clinical drug for a mood, anxiety, and motor dysfunction drug manufactured by Bial and administered by Biotrial. Carl Elliott, a bioethicist at the University of Minnesota, said investigators should look into questions like how much the men were paid and whether they properly consented to the trial. ā€œMany Phase 1 trial volunteers are poor and unemployed, and they volunteer for trials like this because they are desperate for money,ā€ he said. ā€œThis means they are easily exploited.ā€

We Need to Stop Prescribing Antidepressants in Primary Care

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In this op-ed forĀ Pulse, Des Spence argues the case for dramatically reducing antidepressant prescriptions, as antidepressants are often completely ineffective and unnecessary. "Clearly psychological pain,...

Vampire Medicines

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In this piece, Dr. David Healy describes the various factors contributing to the lack of awareness surrounding the harmful and potentially dangerous effects of...

Four-Part Series on Drug Abuse, Trauma, and How to Heal It

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In this four-part seriesĀ on drug abuse and trauma,Ā Parents Opposed to PotĀ provides an overview of the impact of adverse childhood experiences, how they persist, and...

Mental Health Nurses Do Not Routinely Assess for Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

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Researchers believe that side-effect monitoring is critical because of the increase in the use of antipsychotics

ā€œThe Drugs That Built a Super Soldierā€

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"During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military plied its servicemen with speed, steroids, and painkillers to help them handle extended combat,ā€ Lukasz Kamienski writes...

Autism’s Drug Problem

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FromĀ Scientific American: Many autistic children are prescribed multiple psychiatric medications, which can lead to serious adverse effects and are often ineffective. "Multiple diagnoses lead to...

Pro-LGBT Policies Reduce Teen Suicide

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A study demonstrates a 7% reduction in suicide attempts for teens in states that had legalized same-sex marriage.

Psychiatry’s Necessary Shadow: The Philosophy of Mental Illness

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In this piece for Medium, Andrés Ruiz explores the reasons that psychiatry is the only medical speciality with an anti-movement and a history of sustained criticism....