Exposure to Antidepressants in the Womb Linked to Autism

7
Researchers, publishing in Toxicology Research, review the evidence that antidepressant exposure in the womb is linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in humans.

Exposure to Antidepressants in the Womb Linked to Autistic Behavior in Mice

10
Researchers experimenting on mice found that exposure to fluoxetine (Prozac) in utero resulted in behaviors considered in animal studies to be analogous to autism in humans.

Antidepressant Use Linked to Longer, More Frequent Psychiatric Rehospitalization

6
New study finds that antidepressants may negatively impact recovery after psychiatric hospitalization.

The Impact of Regression to the Mean in Psychiatric Drug Studies

12
Could the statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean be responsible for the dramatic effects of placebo—as well as the supposed effectiveness of some psychiatric drugs?

More Psychological Supports Needed to Manage Antidepressant Discontinuation

9
Study reviews psychological interventions for antidepressant discontinuation.

Withdrawal Symptoms Routinely Confound Findings of Psychiatric Drug Studies

10
Researchers examine how rapid discontinuation can mimic the relapse of mental health symptoms and confound psychiatric drug studies.

The Effects of Antidepressant Exposure Across Generations: An Interview with Dr. Vance Trudeau

8
Dr. Vance Trudeau discusses his study's finding that antidepressants may have far-reaching, adverse effects that last up to three generations.
drowning in antidepressants

Ambushed by Antidepressants for 30 Years

93
They helped me function for a while, but the debilitating side effects of antidepressants held me prisoner. I'm still having a hard time understanding how this could have happened. It's been suggested to me by a therapist that what I'm going through now is another kind of PTSD: the ongoing trauma of realizing what antidepressants did to me for 30 years.

Combining Mirtazapine with Existing SSRI or SNRI Does Not Improve Depressive Symptoms

16
Study finds combining mirtazapine with an SSRI or SNRI is not clinically effective for improving depression in primary care patients who remained depressed after taking an SSRI or SNRI.

Does Active Placebo Response Explain Antidepressant Results?

3
A new study investigated whether participants guessing if they have an antidepressant or placebo affects response rates.

Peer-Support Groups Were Right, Guidelines Were Wrong: Dr. Mark Horowitz on Tapering Off Antidepressants

57
In an interview with MIA, Dr. Horowitz discusses his recent article on why tapering off antidepressants can take months or even years.

Very Slow Tapering Best For Antidepressant Withdrawal

9
A new article in Lancet Psychiatry finds that slower tapering of SSRIs is better for preventing antidepressant withdrawal effects.

Psychological Interventions Can Help When Tapering Off Antidepressants

2
Meta-analysis of antidepressant tapering finds CBT and MBCT can aid in tapering, but limited studies met inclusion criteria.

New Study Finds Limited Effectiveness for Antidepressants After Stroke

9
The researchers found that although antidepressants had a slight short-term effect on reducing the likelihood of depression diagnosis, there was no long-term improvement, nor any improvement in motor functioning.

The War on Antidepressants: Why We Need to End it for Public Benefit

52
In the interest of the patients who are currently experiencing withdrawal reactions and the many more who will suffer withdrawal effects in the future, we need to end this “war.” Academic psychiatry must address these problems and conduct thorough research on withdrawal reactions.
antidepressant withdrawal

How Long Does Antidepressant Withdrawal Last?

17
The patient experiencing the pain of withdrawal believed that they would feel better when they stopped taking their antidepressants. After all, they’re under the care of a board-certified medical professional who has vowed to do no harm. But despite those reassurances, they find themselves in a world of hurt.

Researchers Challenge Interpretation of Antidepressant Meta-analysis

5
Researchers question the overstated results of a large antidepressant meta-analysis and point to cultural pressures to turn to these drugs for a quick fix.
withdrawal shackles

Antidepressant Withdrawal: An Unknown Disorder?

24
Antidepressant withdrawal is no longer an unknown disorder since knowledge on this topic has grown enough to be translated into practice. As proposed by George Engel in 1977, medical doctors, including psychiatrists, can observe and listen to their patients and develop a program to treat withdrawal and restore health.

Flexible Treatment Planning Improves Depression Outcomes in Youth

1
Researchers explore the effects of augmented treatment at various points in interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents diagnosed with depression, highlighting previously unidentified critical decision points (i.e., relatively early in the treatment sequence).
bipolar drugs good bad ugly

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: An Infographic on Bipolar Drugs

56
Bipolar drug therapy is a balancing act of benefits vs. harms. Odds of attributable benefit cluster in a 15-25% band, so 75%-85% don’t see substantial benefit. Stated differently, if five people take a bipolar drug, only one is likely to see substantial improvement due to it, but all five will have side effects.

Researchers Push Back Against Recommendation to Combine Antidepressants for Suicide Prevention

23
Researchers challenge the recommendation of starting two antidepressants simultaneously to increase preventative effects against suicide.

Antidepressant Dependence Discussed at the Seat of Welsh Government – Video

30
In parts of Wales in the UK, one in six adults takes antidepressants and support for anyone struggling with dependence or withdrawal issues is patchy and inconsistent. To help draw attention to these issues, an awareness day was arranged for the Welsh Government and here we provide video of the presentations made at the Senedd in Cardiff, Wales.

Researchers Ask, ‘Why Do Antidepressants Stop Working?’

24
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.

Increased Suicidality in Cymbalta Trial for Fibromyalgia in Teens

15
A new as-yet-unpublished trial of duloxetine (Cymbalta) for fibromyalgia has presented more evidence of suicidal events in teens.

New Study Explores Approaches to Discontinuing Antidepressants

12
Psychiatrist and psychologist outline pharmacological and psychotherapeutic strategies for discontinuing antidepressants.