Tag

Psychiatric Drugs

All articles tagged with #psychiatric drugs

health-pharmaceuticals1 year ago

"Deadly Impact: Prescription Drugs as Leading Cause of Death"

A comprehensive analysis suggests that prescription drugs, particularly psychiatric drugs, are a leading cause of death, with estimates of hundreds of thousands of annual deaths in the United States. The methodology used to estimate drug deaths in hospitals is likely an underestimation, and deaths outside hospitals are often misattributed to natural or unknown causes. The overuse and adverse effects of drugs, including neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants, contribute significantly to the death toll. The author argues that most drug deaths are preventable and calls for stricter drug regulation to address the ongoing drug pandemic.

health1 year ago

"Understanding the Process of De-Prescribing Psychiatric Medications"

De-prescribing psychiatric drugs is an important consideration, as many psychiatric illnesses can be intermittent and highly variable. For those with a history of only one episode of depression, it may be safe to consider stopping treatment after a period of recovery, typically six months to a year. De-prescribing is also crucial for popular anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, which can be habit forming and have serious potential adverse effects over time. Additionally, rational de-prescribing is essential in cases of polypharmacy, where multiple medications are used simultaneously, to avoid a "psychotropic drug soup" and simplify complex treatments without loss of benefit.

mental-health2 years ago

The Future of Psychiatry: A Critical Examination (Part Five)

A chapter from the Critical Psychiatry Textbook discusses the long-term outcomes of psychiatric drugs and their impact on conditions such as psychosis and depression. Studies have shown that psychiatric drugs can increase the chronicity of these disorders and lead to poorer outcomes compared to unmedicated patients. For example, research has found that patients with schizophrenia who discontinued their medication had significantly higher recovery rates compared to those who stayed on the drugs. Similarly, studies have shown that depression pills can lead to a more chronic course of the illness and increase the risk of suicide. A recent seminar published in The Lancet was criticized for providing misleading information about suicide and failing to acknowledge the risks associated with psychiatric drugs. The article highlights the need for honest information and a reevaluation of psychiatric care.

neuroscience2 years ago

Serotonin's Impact on Brain and Behavior: A Comprehensive Study

Researchers at MIT have conducted a comprehensive study on serotonin, a key molecule in influencing mood and behavior, tracing its impact from the molecular level to the brain’s overall functioning using the simple animal model of C. elegans. The study identified the functional roles of the worm’s six serotonin receptors, revealing complex interactions between them that likely have direct relevance to psychiatric drugs targeting these receptors. Findings from this research could be crucial in improving existing psychiatric drugs and developing new ones targeting the serotonin system.