Antidepressants May Not Be The Solution To Depression

The mainstay of the treatment of depression, which we can call the disease of our age, antidepressant are drugs; however, these drugs are frequently criticized for how permanent their effects are. Of course, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use antidepressants, given that they’ve saved many people’s lives; however, this is often the case if the person stops taking the medication. back to old depression does not change the reality.

Now, a new study published in PLOS One has found that antidepressants can improve people’s quality of life in the long term, compared to people with depression who don’t use such drugs. did not improve suggests. According to the findings obtained in the said study, which is the latest in a series of studies advocating the need to reconsider the use of antidepressants. better therapiesmay be the real solution to depression.

Millions of adults are diagnosed with depression each year.

The new research, led by pharmacoepidemiologist Omar Almohammed of King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, looks like it could help people who are not getting their hopes up with antidepressants. These drugs, which do not make a great contribution to the treatment of depression in some people; such as weight gain, insomnia, loss of sex drive, and even withdrawal-like symptoms that indicate addiction if quitting abruptly. unwanted side effects is known to be.

In their article, Almohammed and colleagues argue that it is possible to improve people’s general well-being, especially their quality of life, for years, not just a few months. “the ultimate goal of therapy” means it is. However, doubts remain as to whether antidepressants can help achieve this goal. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical industry uses many data showing that antidepressant drugs may be ineffective for their own benefit. hidden for years is alleged.

Although this understanding has decreased recently, most of the antidepressants are given to depressed people. didn’t give what he wanted and different treatment methods in this field. need obviously it is. To offer a solution to this problem, the researchers in the new study therefore compiled data from a nationwide study that tracked which healthcare services Americans use.

Antidepressants fail to improve quality of life

According to the health records covering the period between 2005 and 2016, approximately every year to an average of 17 million adults is diagnosed with depression. When we consider that this number is equivalent to the population of the Netherlands or Ecuador, the seriousness of the situation is much more obvious. On the other hand, the fact that approximately two-thirds of the people in this 11-year dataset are women is a real-life situation. gender inequality, It is stated that it is an indicator of how it is reflected in mental health.

In the analysis, it was found that the use of antidepressants was associated with some mental improvements, but the quality of life decreased. not related to physical aspects found. In other words, this means that people’s psychological distress and well-being improve with antidepressants, but physical health problems, bodily aches, and lack of vitality often persist.

Worse, the positive changes seen in some aspects of quality of life for people taking antidepressants within two years were not very different from the changes seen for those not using the drug. Drawing on these data, the team notes that physicians and healthcare professionals should consider including their patients in psychotherapy or social support sessions before resorting to antidepressants, mainly because these drugs do not have a lasting impact on people’s quality of life.

Taking antidepressants with therapy may be the most effective method.

The study, on the other hand, does not differentiate between newly diagnosed cases of depression and people who have lived with a mood disorder for years. That is, subjects were included in the analysis if they had a diagnosis of depression and two-year follow-up data. This may mean that for some individuals these drugs have an initial effect before the observed two-year period. However, the researchers were unable to conduct any analysis of the severity of depression, as it was not recorded in the survey data.

Another aspect that the study lacks is the difference between the two study groups in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and poverty experience. It would also be absurd to think that the findings of a US-based study would apply to everyone, anywhere in the world; however, the study still shows that modern antidepressants from other countries are better in many ways. is insufficient It is very consistent with other studies suggesting

Of course, as we mentioned before “Throw away your antidepressants immediately” doesn’t mean. The study will only help experts know how best to use these drugs before resorting to direct antidepressants, and how long-lasting the effects will be. rethinking draws attention to the need Moreover, according to a 2016 meta-analysis of more than 150 randomized, placebo-controlled studies, antidepressants can be combined with the support of a psychotherapist. simultaneous It is stated that using the drug is more effective in improving the quality of life of people than using only medication or just going to talk therapy.