SAN ANTONIO -- A San Antonio doctor of psychology says warnings about the risks of antidepressants for children and young adults are widely misunderstood. He’s trying to get the word out to doctors and parents that these medications are safe and effective for treatment serious mental health problems.
We’ve heard a lot about increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people treated with antidepressants. Since 2004, the FDA has required a so-called "black box" label warning of the risk in patients up to 24 years old. But it’s a risk Dr. Craig Bryan says is misunderstood."Probably the number one misconception is that taking antidepressants will cause you to kill yourself, absolutely," said Bryan, a doctor of psychology at the U.T. Health Science Center. "The data does not support that and in the pediatric trails that the FDA reviewed, there wasn’t a single suicide amongst any children or adolescents."
Bryan has written an article in the journal "Professional Psychology: Research and Practice." In it, he tries to dispel myths he believes are leading to under diagnosis and under treatment of depression.
The story that led to the black box warning in the first place found a 2% increase in thoughts of suicide, not death by suicide, an important distinction Bryan says many parents and doctors miss.
He’s concerned the label change is leading to changing practice. "People as a whole are getting less treatment than they were before," he explained.
Psychotherapy along with medications is still considered the most effective approach to treating depression. Bryan and many of his colleagues want to take some of the "fear factor" out of a prescription for antidepressants.
"They can be safe and they can be effective treatments for a significant health problem," Bryan stated.
The first year after the black box warning, there was an 18% increase in youth suicides. Whether the warning is scaring sick people away from the medications they need is still being debated.
kittenfish said on November 11, 2009 at 8:29 AM
It's bad enough when social stigma STILL stop many adults from seeking the help they need, we DON'T need to add another "reason" to not take anti-depressants.. I know; I was there about 10 years ago. I was suffering from moderate depression. It was affecting my daily life but not so bad that I couldn't fake it during the day at work. At home, though, I was a total vege. I did the minimum to get by. Zero social life. Physically, I was exhausted all the time. Suddently I had no desire to do the things I enjoyed; books just sat on my shelves. LUCKILY a friend of mine, vivacious and active, admitted that SHE was on anti-depressants. Intelligent and out-going people DO get depression! I took the plunge and, along with talk therapy, added Zoloft to my routine. I felt better in less than a week! After 5 years, I didn't need it anymore. Every now and then, when I feel the symptoms coming back, I ask a doctor for a prescription of Zoloft, and review all of therapy lessons. It DOES work!
orchid1983 said on November 11, 2009 at 8:50 AM
I HAVE BEEN TAKING ZOLOFT FOR OVER 2 YRS AND I LOVE MY LIFE.
msyellarose1 said on November 11, 2009 at 9:30 AM
I'm in agreement here. I understand what it's like to be clinically depressed. I decided I had suffered long enough, took Prozac and had therapy for two years. I have benn off of it since 2002, and I feel so much better and am enjoying my life. To heck with the perceived "stigma" attached to mental health care. Do something to help yourself. If you see a friend or family member in need of help, do something to help them. A lot of prescriptions are on the $4 list at most pharmacies. Maybe then we won't be reading so many stories on this site where people have just gone off the deep end.
msyellarose1 said on November 11, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Oops! "been" is what I meant to type. Forgive the typo!
broadmindedbroad said on November 11, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Been there myself, for most of my life, up until December of '93 when I decided for ONCE I wanted to enjoy Christmas, so took myself to a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist for an antidepressant prescription. Had about 6 months of psychotherapy and took antidepressants for years, and it controlled my depression. Then a couple years ago, I got to the point where I didn't feel I needed the medication any more, so tapered it off and finally quit it. Been feeling FINE! You CAN get better, and you CAN get off the meds once the psychotherapy and the meds have performed their dual magic!
ohmygosh said on November 11, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I thought my mood swings were mid-life female problems. When I went to the Doctor, she talked to me for a while, check my heart because my BP was up, and then informed me it was depression. After being on the meds, I am a much happier person and look forward to each day. She said a lot of females blame their moods on hormonal changes, when in fact it is depression.
ballerinab said on November 11, 2009 at 2:23 PM
I was going through mild depression so I was put on zoloft and it made it worse then I changed to another one (do not remember the name) and it was just as bad. These medicines made my depression increase and I almost committed suicide several times after being on it. I was on them for about 4 months each. I didnt feel better until I was off medicine for about 2 months. I went through horrible withdrawals that completely disabled me for a few days. It may work for some people so I am not saying not to try it but if you do PLEASE have someone close to you that can be your support and watch out for you. My mother however is on zoloft and is much better on it but she also has withdrawals if she misses a dose. Maybe I am an exception since I usually will not even take over the counter medicine (Motrin, Advil, etc.).
raymon said on November 13, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Like Nike says, just do it and get off of the tax payers money!