Research News

Summaries of research findings that tell of a scientific need to "rethink psychiatry."

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Animal Study: SSRI Neurotoxic in Pregnancy

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Researchers: Fetal exposure to vilazodone hampers neurodevelopment and leads to "long-lasting neurodevelopmental impairments."

Antidepressants in Dementia Patients Increase Risk of Death and Fractures

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A large-scale study reveals that antidepressant use is linked to faster cognitive decline in dementia patients, raising concerns about their widespread prescription.

New Study Links Antidepressants to Increased Risk of Diabetes

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Using genetic analysis, a new study finds that antidepressantsā€”not depressionā€”are responsible for a significant rise in type 2 diabetes risk.

Are Antidepressants Weakening Womenā€™s Bones?

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A study spanning two decades finds that antidepressant use is associated with a 44% increase in osteoporosis risk and a 62% higher chance of fractures.

Lithium Doubles Risk of Thyroid and Kidney Dysfunction

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Serum lithium levels lower than those considered therapeutic still conveyed increased risk.

Deadly Prescriptions: New Study Links Antipsychotics to Life-Threatening Risks in Dementia Patients

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With pharmaceutical companies pushing antipsychotics for off-label use, dementia patients are being put at risk for devastating health consequences. Research suggests safer alternatives existā€”but why arenā€™t they being prioritized?

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms Linked to Life-Altering Consequences, New Study Shows

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A new study reveals that withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants can last years, disrupting lives and relationships.

Reframing Antipsychotic Discontinuation: A Psychiatristā€™s Personal and Professional Call for Epistemic Justice

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A psychiatrist with lived experience advocates for a more humane, collaborative approach to antipsychotic discontinuation that respects diverse ways of knowing.

Benzodiazepines Linked to Suicide, Study Finds

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A new study finds that benzodiazepinesā€”alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium)ā€”are associated with an increased risk of suicidal events.

Psych Drugs May Increase Likelihood of Death in Schizophrenia

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The drugs, especially benzos and high doses of antipsychotics, led to an increased risk of death within five years. Antidepressants also did not reduce mortality.

Service Users Report Psychiatric Professionals as the Least Helpful Factor in Quitting Antipsychotics

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A new study published in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice finds that psychiatrists and other doctors are the most unhelpful factor for...

Withdrawal Symptoms Common for Those who Stop Taking Antidepressants

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A new study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, investigates the prevalence and typical characteristics of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome (AWS) through analyzing available research. Researchers found...

Why Gradual Reduction of Antipsychotics Could Be Safer for Service Users

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A new commentary published in Current Opinion in Psychiatry presents the case for slow tapering of antipsychotics. According to authors Mark Horowitz and Joanna...

Antidepressants Cause Cardiovascular Disease, Study Finds

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A new study published in BMJ Mental Health finds that antidepressants are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The authors employed Mendelian randomization, a method...

Study Finds No Increased Risks for Pregnant Women Who Discontinue SSRIs/SNRIs

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A new article published in Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology finds pregnant women that chose to stop using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin...

Study Finds Over 25% of Antidepressant Prescriptions Given to High-Risk, Long-Term Users

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A new article published in BMC Medicine finds that antidepressant use in two Scottish regions increased 27% between 2012 and 2019. The current work,...

Antidepressants Linked to Lasting Sexual Dysfunction, Study Finds

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New research highlights the challenges in quantifying the prevalence of Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), a condition that continues to affect patients long after they stop taking antidepressants.

ADHD Drugs Linked to Psychosis and Mania

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In one analysis, those on a high dose of prescription amphetamines were more than 13 times more likely to develop psychosis/mania.

Antidepressant Withdrawal: A Psychiatrist’s 30-Year Challenge to Conventional Wisdom

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For thirty years, Dr. Giovanni Fava has sounded the alarm on the long-term effects of antidepressants and the risks of withdrawal, pushing back against pharmaceutical narratives.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Commonly Misdiagnosed as ā€œMental Illnessā€

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A new study reveals that more than two-thirds of patients experiencing antidepressant withdrawal were misdiagnosed with psychiatric disorders.

Antidepressants Overprescribed to Post-Menopausal Women Despite Risks

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A new study reveals that antidepressants, commonly prescribed to post-menopausal women, may increase risks of falls, cognitive decline, and cardiovascular issues, raising questions about their overuse in this population.

The Ethics of Antipsychotic Dose Reduction and Patient Rights

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New research highlights the ethical responsibilities of clinicians in supporting patients who choose to reduce or discontinue antipsychotic medication.

Youth Antipsychotic Use Linked to Increased Risk of Death within Five Years

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Those aged 18-24 had an increased risk of death within five years on doses above 100 mg chlorpromazine equivalents.

Antiseizure Drug Exposure in Pregnancy Linked to Large Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual...

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Harms are ā€œlargely overlooked by psychiatry despite widespread usage,ā€ according to the researchers.

Wunderink: Antipsychotics Can Be Tapered Safely Without Increasing Relapse Risk

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Tapering antipsychotics slowly and with supported decision-making may improve care for patients with psychosis.