Author Questions the Use of Antidepressants during Lecture at Canadian University

Paxil, a member of the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) is thought to cause birth defects in children born to mothers who took the drug while pregnant. Many women who have given birth to children with Paxil birth defects have filed lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline, the drug’s manufacturer, alleging that it should have informed them of the dangers before they became pregnant. Click here to see a Paxil information graphic.

Robert Whitaker, the author of the book, Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness, gave a lecture this week at Montreal’s Concordia University about the public misconceptions associated with pharmaceutical manufacturers, doctors, and the over-prescription of antidepressants like Paxil, along with antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel. He believes these drugs are doing more harm than good because they are driving an epidemic of “drug-induced mental illness.”

Antidepressants Affect Brain Chemistry

Whitaker spoke to the Montreal Gazette prior to his lecture, saying that he believes improved detection and various cultural factors are contributing to the increased numbers of mentally ill individuals in society. He also quotes studies that have shown that antidepressants induce changes in brain chemistry that can trigger suicidal thoughts, manic and psychotic behavior, among other illnesses.

Drugs Have Replaced Talk Therapy

Although he believes antidepressants do have their place and are useful for treating certain conditions, Whitaker believes, as do many others, that medication has replaced talk therapy, with doctors writing far more prescriptions than offering referrals to mental health professionals. Insurance coverage can also be a hindrance when it comes to obtaining quality psychiatric care, because treatment isn’t always covered by plans. This leaves patients who cannot afford the steep fees charged by mental health professionals little choice but to accept prescription drugs as the only form of treatment, which are usually covered by their health insurance plans.

“The bottom line is, some  people clearly do well – but you really do see a lot of harm with long term [antidepressant] use,” Whitaker says. “Who do the drugs benefit and for how long?” he asks, questioning the validity of industry-funded drug trials which do not answer the question about whether long term antidepressant use causes more harm than good when treating major mental disorders.

According to a Canadian government report, mental health issues are the number one cause of disability in Canada, with one in five Canadians experiencing issues with mental illness. Thirty percent of disability claims and 70 percent of health care costs are attributed to mental illness, according to the 2006 figures.

Patients Should Weigh Risks and Benefits of Antidepressants

Although there are many legitimate prescriptions written for Paxil and other antidepressants, a person who believes he or she may need to take this type of medication should consult with a primary care physician as well as a mental health professional before accepting a prescription. Although antidepressants are well-tolerated for the most part, they do come with some inherent risks, especially to women who are pregnant. These concerns should be discussed before beginning a course of treatment.

Protect Your Rights as a Consumer

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