depression – Page 5 – A New Vision for Mental Health

Framing depression as a functional signal, not a disease: Rationale and initial randomized controlled trial

Author: Editorial 12th June 2023 0 Comments

This research paper – published in Social Science & Medicine – comes from Hans S. Schroder, Andrew Devendorf, and Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher. “Highlights Depression is often discussed as a medical disorder. This framework has some benefits but also has some drawbacks. We…
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a coherent system

Andrew Devendorf, Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher, depression, depression as a signal, depression as adaptive function, Hans S. Schroder, Research, Social Science & Medicine

Do not prescribe antidepressants for mild to moderate depression or at first visit

Author: Editorial 7th June 2023 0 Comments

This article by Peter Simons has been published by Mad in the UK. It begins: “In a new article in World Psychiatry, researchers suggest doctors shouldn’t be so quick to hand out antidepressants. They focus on primary care, which is where most…
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collaborative practice

antidepressants, Bruce Arrol, depression, Mad in the UK, Peter Simons, Pim Cuijpers, placebo effect, Research, World Psychiatry

‘Growing crisis’: Thousands more 12 to 15 years olds being prescribed antidepressants

Author: Editorial 5th June 2023 0 Comments

This report by Shauna Bowers (and (concerning Ireland) comes from the Irish Times. It begins: “Antidepressant prescriptions to children aged 15 and under has increased by more than 130 per cent over the past decade, according to new figures from the…
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collaborative practice

antidepressants, children and adolescents, depression, Health Service Executive, Irish Times, Shauna Bowers

How the “Chemical Imbalance” Metaphor Harms Patients

Author: Editorial 2nd June 2023 0 Comments

This article by Justin Garson has been published in Psychology Today. It begins: People who think their depression comes from a chemical imbalance are more pessimistic about recovery. They also tend to believe that medication is more useful than therapy. Fortunately,…
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Uncategorised

chemical imbalance theory, depression, Justin Garson, Prozac, Psychology Today, serotonin, SSRIs

Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – a guide from the expert

Author: Editorial 31st May 2023 0 Comments

This book has been written by Prof. David Nutt. The publishers say: “We are on the cusp of a major revolution in psychiatric medicine and neuroscience. After fifty years of prohibition, criminalisation and fear, science is finally showing us that psychedelics…
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collaborative practice

ayahuasca, books, David Nutt, depression, Ketamine, LSD, magic mushrooms, MDMA, Neuropsychopharmacology, neuroscience, OCD, psilocybin, psychedelic drugs, PTSD

Prescribers often fail to support patients discontinuing antidepressants, study finds

Author: Editorial 3rd May 2023 0 Comments

This report by Ashley Bobak has been published by Mad in the UK. It begins: “A majority of patients seeking medical support when discontinuing antidepressants found their prescribing doctors to be unhelpful, according to the results of the second-largest international…
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collaborative practice

antidepressants, Ashley Bobak, depression, drug tapering, International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, John Read, Journal of Psychiatric Research, Mad in the UK, Research

Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Suicide Note

Author: Editorial 26th April 2023 0 Comments

This blog post by Dr. David Healey contains a reply to Dr. Adrian James (President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists) concerning antidepressants and suicide. It begins: “24 April 2023 Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has written…
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collaborative practice

Adrian James, antidepressants, David Healy, Defense Unions, depression, inquests, John Read, psychiatry, SSRIs, suicide

Antidepressants increase the risk of suicide for some patients, scientists warn

Author: Editorial 19th April 2023 0 Comments

“Research into reports of people taking their own life showed drugs can be the motive and also give them the means” This report by Sarah Knapton has been published in The Telegraph. It begins: “Antidepressants raise the risk of suicide while also giving people the means…
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collaborative practice

antidepressants, depression, Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, John Read, Prozac, Research, suicide

Services for People Withdrawing From Antidepressants

Author: Editorial 10th April 2023 0 Comments

“New study documents what antidepressant users need to help them come off safely.” Key Points: One in four people will experience severe withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce or come off antidepressants. There are no specialized services to support people…
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a coherent system

All Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence, antidepressants, depression, drug tapering, Joanna Moncrieff, John Read, Mark Horowitz, psychiatry, Psychology Today, Public Health England, Research

Psychedelic drug trip improves symptoms of depression for six months, breakthrough study finds

Author: Editorial 6th April 2023 0 Comments

Nina Massey reports for The Independent: “A psychedelic drug that gives trips lasting half an hour improves the symptoms of moderate to severe depression for up to six months, early trial results suggest. Biotechnology company Small Pharma announced the results of…
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collaborative practice

depression, Dimethyltryptamine, Nina Massey, Psychedelic-assisted therapy, Robin Carhart-Harris, Small Pharma, The Independent