SSRI Use During Pregnancy Alters the Child’s Brain Development
Reduced brain volumes due to SSRI exposure in pregnancy was not explained by maternal depression alone.
Psychiatric Journals’ Pro-Pharma Publication Bias Hides Suicide Risk of Antidepressants
Selective publication bias in top psychiatry journals was not explained by the quality of the studies, but by financial ties to pharma.
Antidepressants Increase Suicide Attempts in Youth; No Preventative Effect
Researchers find that SSRIs increase suicide attempts up to age 24, and have no preventative effect at any age, even for those at high risk of suicide.
No Benefit for Adding Antidepressants to CBT in Severe Depression
For those with severe depression, inpatient CBT was effective but the adding antidepressants did not improve treatment outcomes.
New Data Reveal the Full Extent of STAR*D Failure
The initial study, which has been used to promote antidepressants, employed outcome switching to hide poor results.
Lexapro for Children: Drug With No Meaningful Benefit and Increased Suicidality Gets FDA Approval
Response and remission rates were the same in the drug versus placebo groups, and Lexapro increased suicidality sixfold.
Pharma CEO, Others Attempt Contradictory Critiques of Serotonin-Debunking Study
Moncrieff et al. respond to the contradictory and, in some cases, false concerns raised by these critics of their serotonin review.
No Difference in Antidepressant Effectiveness After Genetic Testing
Genetic testing may help reduce the length of time people experience the harmful effects of antidepressant drugs, but it is not helpful for predicting efficacy.
Do Not Prescribe Antidepressants for Mild to Moderate Depression or at First Visit
World Psychiatry article challenges conventional antidepressant prescription practices.
Study Highlights Lack of Evidence for Antidepressants in Treatment of Chronic Pain
A new Cochrane review details the lack of evidence for antidepressants in the treatment of chronic pain.
Hyperbolic Tapering off Antidepressants Limits Withdrawal
New research by Jim van Os and Peter Groot finds that using hyperbolic tapering to discontinue antidepressants reduces withdrawal effects.
What Is the Risk of Permanent Sexual Dysfunction from Antidepressants?
Males taking antidepressants were at 100 times the risk of erectile dysfunction compared with the healthy population and more than three times the risk even after controlling for other variables.
Prescribers Often Fail to Support Patients Discontinuing Antidepressants, Study Finds
Study reveals most patients are dissatisfied with prescribers' support when discontinuing antidepressants.
Alarming Overprescription Patterns for Older Adults on Antidepressants
New study finds polypharmacy for 73% of older adults on antidepressants, with 56% at risk of harmful drug interactions.
New Guidance on Antidepressant Withdrawal for Doctors in the UK
New guidance for primary care doctors in the UK on antidepressant discontinuation acknowledges severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms.
Understanding the Neurobiology of Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) may be a common adverse effect of antidepressants. Researchers are now attempting to understand the neurobiology behind it.
Researchers Seek Standardized and Safe Antidepressant Tapering Protocol
A new study promotes the use of a standardized approach to antidepressant tapering.
Therapy Beats Drugs for Depression for Long-Term Outcomes
Combining drugs and therapy also did not lead to better depression outcomes than therapy alone.
Antidepressants Plus Immune Response Terminate Pregnancies in Mice
Also, male mice born to mothers with an immune response exhibited “autistic-like” behaviors, scientists report.
Animals Exposed to Antidepressants in Utero Are Worse at Taking Care of Their Own...
A new study in rats found that those exposed to antidepressants in utero had an impaired ability to nurture their own children in later life.
Gradual Tapering Recommended for Antidepressant Discontinuation
A new literature review reinforces the need to “down-titrate” or taper antidepressants, especially drugs like Celexa and Paxil.
Antidepressant Withdrawal Linked to Suicide Attempt in Case Study
Researchers suggest that antidepressant withdrawal can be a possible precipitant of suicide.
Long Term Antidepressant Use Associated With Increased Morbidity and Mortality
A study finds that commonly prescribed antidepressants are associated with the development of diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases.
Health Risks to Babies When Antidepressants Used During Pregnancy
Babies born to mothers taking antidepressants during pregnancy were more than six times as likely to have neonatal withdrawal syndrome—including breathing problems, irritability/agitation, tremors, feeding problems, and seizures—than those born to mothers taking other types of drugs.
Antidepressants No Better Than Placebo for About 85% of People
Researchers can’t predict the 15% who benefit from antidepressants, and the other 85% are unnecessarily exposed to the harms of the drugs.
