For years, the issue lingered at the margins — on patient forums and in a handful of studies. It gained broader attention in early May, when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an effort to study and support the “deprescribing” of psychiatric drugs. The Department of Health and Human Services said it will encourage other interventions such as therapy and lifestyle changes to treat mental health conditions, get experts to draft guidelines for going off psychiatric medications and develop materials on potential risks.
Kennedy has long been skeptical of SSRIs, particularly their use in children, which has at times sparked controversy. Still, many scientists — including those who say the administration is overstating the potential harms of SSRIs or missing nuance — say the underlying concern is real.
Some psychiatrists caution against overcorrecting. They worry that the growing focus on withdrawal could discourage appropriate use of antidepressants or lead patients to attribute symptoms during tapering to withdrawal when they may reflect a return of the underlying illness.
As usual he's right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteSSRI's and all other anti-depressants are over-prescribed.
Counselling is effective. Psychotherapy is effective. Both are expensive and require time commitments. SSRI's are cheaep pills that require 5 seconds to take every day.
Meanwhile there are the environmental factors like social media that is destroying the mental health of a 2nd generation already. How about banning that?
It's a lot like the diabetes epidemic. People eat processed food, drink and smoke, don't exercise and then expect pills and injections to fix them when healthy eating and aggressive exercise would provide the same benefit if not more. But pills are easy and don't require lifestyle changes.
Ban social media. Increase coverage and availability of therapists. See what happens.