Read, 2014 Adverse emotional and interpersonal effects reported by 1829 New Zealanders while taking antidepressants.

[Altostrata]

A Web survey reveals adverse effects may be far more frequent than recognized by medicine. The invitation to the survey is here http://walsh.org.nz/file/About-Us/university-of-auckland-study-of-antidepressants.pdf.

 

From a media release posted on the lead author's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorJohnRead

 

MEDIA RELEASE – 18.02.2014

 

Emotional side-effects of antidepressants reported by more than 50% of largest sample surveyed to date

 

A survey of 1829 New Zealanders prescribed antidepressants, the largest sample ever surveyed, has found high rates of emotional and interpersonal adverse effects.

 

Lead researcher, Professor John Read (Institute of Psychology, Health and Society; University of Liverpool) comments on his Facebook page :

 

“The medicalization of sadness and distress has reached bizarre levels. One in ten people in some countries are now prescribed antidepressants each year.”

 

“While the biological side effects of antidepressants, such as weight gain and nausea, are well documented, the psychological and interpersonal effects have been largely ignored or denied. They appear to be alarmingly common.”

 

“Effects such as feeling emotionally numb and caring less about other people are of major concern. Our study also found that people are not being told about these effects when prescribed the drugs.”

 

“Our finding that over a third of respondents reported suicidality ‘as a result of taking the antidepressants’ suggests that earlier studies may have underestimated the problem.”

 

Over half (55%) of young people (18-25years) reported suicidality.

 

“Our sample was not biased towards people with an axe to grind about anti-depressants; 82% reported that the drugs had helped alleviate their depression.”

 

 

Psychiatry Res. 2014 Feb 3. pii: S0165-1781(14)00083-3. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.01.042. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Adverse emotional and interpersonal effects reported by 1829 New Zealanders while taking antidepressants.

Read J¹, Cartwright C², Gibson K².

 

Author information

 

Abstract at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24534123

 

BACKGROUND:

In the context of rapidly increasing antidepressant use internationally, and recent reviews raising concerns about efficacy and adverse effects, this study aimed to survey the largest sample of AD recipients to date.

 

METHODS:

An online questionnaire about experiences with, and beliefs about, antidepressants was completed by 1829 adults who had been prescribed antidepressants in the last five years (53% were first prescribed them between 2000 and 2009, and 52% reported taking them for more than three years).

 

RESULTS:

Eight of the 20 adverse effects studied were reported by over half the participants; most frequently Sexual Difficulties (62%) and Feeling Emotionally Numb (60%). Percentages for other effects included: Feeling Not Like Myself - 52%, Reduction In Positive Feelings - 42%, Caring Less About Others - 39%, Suicidality - 39% and Withdrawal Effects - 55%. Total Adverse Effect scores were related to younger age, lower education and income, and type of antidepressant, but not to level of depression prior to taking antidepressants.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

The adverse effects of antidepressants may be more frequent than previously reported, and include emotional and interpersonal effects.

[GiaK]

great...I'd seen the study but not this media release...I just put it on the blog, thank you!