antidepressants

A few weeks ago, we answered your questions about antidepressants — specifically, what we know (and don’t know) about how they work, how effective they can be, and what it means to take them long-term.We asked you to tell us about your experiences with depression and antidepressants, and we received so many diverse and honest accounts.I reached out to several of you to get your consent to share your stories with the larger Group Therapy community. I’m going to share parts of those messages in this newsletter.I also…

Scientists have made a startling discovery. According to a new study researchers presented at the 35th Annual European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Vienna, certain anti-depressants can cause drastic changes in the brain. In fact, they may even be able to rewire brains affected by major depressive disorder. Massive depressive disorder, or MDD as I’ll refer to it from here out, is a mental health disorder that is characterized by persistent depressing moods, dark thoughts, and a general loss of…

Today I’m answering a $15-billion question.That colossal figure is the value of the global antidepressant market. Depression can be absolutely debilitating, and I believe we should use every tool in our ever-expanding toolbox to help treat it, without judgment — whether that be antidepressants, spiritual practices, psychotherapy, or the right mix of these.Still, the question of whether antidepressants actually work and whether they’re worth the risks is a complicated debate that has been going on since the ’90s, when…

Image: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)A new study this week may provide comfort to expectant mothers living with depression. The research found no clear link between taking antidepressants during pregnancy and future brain-related conditions in children, such as autism or ADHD.Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 3 million pregnant individuals and their children, including more than 145,000 people who reported antidepressant use at 19 weeks into gestation through the end of their pregnancy. The data allowed…

For millions of people around the world, salvation from long periods of dark thoughts and oppressive feelings comes in pill form, with each dose doing its bit to ensure the balance of a humble neurotransmitter called serotonin remains relatively in check.  In spite of their popularity as a treatment for mood disorders, much of the mechanisms behind antidepressant pharmaceuticals are a complete black box. We can only guess at how they work in treating low moods.More shocking still, those guesses could be completely wrong,…

Probiotics – the 'good bacteria' often claimed to lead to positive health responses – could have a role to play in treating depression, according to a new study involving 47 volunteers who were experiencing depressive episodes.  Participants in the research who took probiotic supplements in addition to antidepressants showed a greater improvement in their depressive symptoms than those who took a placebo, over the course of a 31-day period.The researchers also noticed changes caused by the probiotics in the intestinal…