Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests

[Guest guest]

http://m.cbsnews.com/blogsfullstory.rbml?catid=20088652 & feed_id=71 & videofeed=nul\

l

Sorry if this is a double-post. I thought I saw a similar story a couple of days

ago but ddidn't see it when I scanned recent posts.

Terry

Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests

August 05, 2011



(Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS) Not depressed? That doesn't mean your doctor won't hand you a prescription

for antidepressants.

More and more doctors are prescribing the drugs for patients who aren't

suffering from depression or any other mental illness, according to a

provocative new study.

" We've seen a marked increase in antidepressant use among individuals with no

psychiatric diagnosis, " study author Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, an associate professor

at s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a written statement.

" Between 1996 and 2007, the number of visits where individuals were prescribed

antidepressants with no psychiatric diagnoses increased from 59.5 percent to

72.7 percent. "

The study, which involved an analysis of medical records for 230,000 patient

visits, involved only non-psychiatrists - who may be less knowledgeable about

just which conditions respond to antidepressants and which don't, Dr. Mojtabai

told CBS News.It was published in the August 2011 issue of Health Affairs.

In addition to major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, other emotional

problems, antidepressants known to be effective for certain kinds of pain and

other physical complaints. But Dr. Mojtabai said there's scant evidence that

antidepressants offer any relief from the vague complaints for which some

non-psychiatrists prescribe them, including stress, relationship problems, low

self-esteem, and ordinary ache and pains.

The biggest outrage? Some patients were prescribed antidepressants even when the

medical record indicated no reason.

What explains the increasing use of antidepressants? Dr. Mojtabai blamed the

direct-to-consumer drug ads, which can encourage some patients to ask their

doctors for antidepressants. In addition, non-psychiatrisst may be less

knowledgeable about antidepressants - what they're good for and what not.

But Dr. Victor Reus, professor of psychiatry at the University of California at

San Francisco School of Medicine, told WebMD that there may be other

explanations. One possibility, he said, is that doctors who get reimbursed at

lower rates for treating psychiatric conditions may use a different illness code

in their records. Another is that, given the continuing stigma about mental

illness, doctors may be reluctant to indicate mental illness in a patient's

records.

Whatever the explanation, it's clear that Inappropriate prescribing of

antidepressants doesn't just waste time and money. It can expose patients to

withdrawal symptoms when they go off the drugs. In addition, antidepressants are

under increasing scrutiny for their side effects, which include weight gain,

sexual problems, and diabetes.

What advice does Dr. Mojtabai have for patients?

He said any patient who receives a prescription for an antidepressant should ask

the doctor two questions: " What is the reason you are prescribing this for me? "

and " What is the evidence that this is more effective than a placebo? "

The National Institute of Mental Health has more on psychiatric medications.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://m.cbsnews.com/blogsfullstory.rbml?catid=20088652 & feed_id=71 & videofeed=nul\

l

Sorry if this is a double-post. I thought I saw a similar story a couple of days

ago but ddidn't see it when I scanned recent posts.

Terry

Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests

August 05, 2011



(Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS) Not depressed? That doesn't mean your doctor won't hand you a prescription

for antidepressants.

More and more doctors are prescribing the drugs for patients who aren't

suffering from depression or any other mental illness, according to a

provocative new study.

" We've seen a marked increase in antidepressant use among individuals with no

psychiatric diagnosis, " study author Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, an associate professor

at s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a written statement.

" Between 1996 and 2007, the number of visits where individuals were prescribed

antidepressants with no psychiatric diagnoses increased from 59.5 percent to

72.7 percent. "

The study, which involved an analysis of medical records for 230,000 patient

visits, involved only non-psychiatrists - who may be less knowledgeable about

just which conditions respond to antidepressants and which don't, Dr. Mojtabai

told CBS News.It was published in the August 2011 issue of Health Affairs.

In addition to major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, other emotional

problems, antidepressants known to be effective for certain kinds of pain and

other physical complaints. But Dr. Mojtabai said there's scant evidence that

antidepressants offer any relief from the vague complaints for which some

non-psychiatrists prescribe them, including stress, relationship problems, low

self-esteem, and ordinary ache and pains.

The biggest outrage? Some patients were prescribed antidepressants even when the

medical record indicated no reason.

What explains the increasing use of antidepressants? Dr. Mojtabai blamed the

direct-to-consumer drug ads, which can encourage some patients to ask their

doctors for antidepressants. In addition, non-psychiatrisst may be less

knowledgeable about antidepressants - what they're good for and what not.

But Dr. Victor Reus, professor of psychiatry at the University of California at

San Francisco School of Medicine, told WebMD that there may be other

explanations. One possibility, he said, is that doctors who get reimbursed at

lower rates for treating psychiatric conditions may use a different illness code

in their records. Another is that, given the continuing stigma about mental

illness, doctors may be reluctant to indicate mental illness in a patient's

records.

Whatever the explanation, it's clear that Inappropriate prescribing of

antidepressants doesn't just waste time and money. It can expose patients to

withdrawal symptoms when they go off the drugs. In addition, antidepressants are

under increasing scrutiny for their side effects, which include weight gain,

sexual problems, and diabetes.

What advice does Dr. Mojtabai have for patients?

He said any patient who receives a prescription for an antidepressant should ask

the doctor two questions: " What is the reason you are prescribing this for me? "

and " What is the evidence that this is more effective than a placebo? "

The National Institute of Mental Health has more on psychiatric medications.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://m.cbsnews.com/blogsfullstory.rbml?catid=20088652 & feed_id=71 & videofeed=nul\

l

Sorry if this is a double-post. I thought I saw a similar story a couple of days

ago but ddidn't see it when I scanned recent posts.

Terry

Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests

August 05, 2011



(Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS) Not depressed? That doesn't mean your doctor won't hand you a prescription

for antidepressants.

More and more doctors are prescribing the drugs for patients who aren't

suffering from depression or any other mental illness, according to a

provocative new study.

" We've seen a marked increase in antidepressant use among individuals with no

psychiatric diagnosis, " study author Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, an associate professor

at s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a written statement.

" Between 1996 and 2007, the number of visits where individuals were prescribed

antidepressants with no psychiatric diagnoses increased from 59.5 percent to

72.7 percent. "

The study, which involved an analysis of medical records for 230,000 patient

visits, involved only non-psychiatrists - who may be less knowledgeable about

just which conditions respond to antidepressants and which don't, Dr. Mojtabai

told CBS News.It was published in the August 2011 issue of Health Affairs.

In addition to major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, other emotional

problems, antidepressants known to be effective for certain kinds of pain and

other physical complaints. But Dr. Mojtabai said there's scant evidence that

antidepressants offer any relief from the vague complaints for which some

non-psychiatrists prescribe them, including stress, relationship problems, low

self-esteem, and ordinary ache and pains.

The biggest outrage? Some patients were prescribed antidepressants even when the

medical record indicated no reason.

What explains the increasing use of antidepressants? Dr. Mojtabai blamed the

direct-to-consumer drug ads, which can encourage some patients to ask their

doctors for antidepressants. In addition, non-psychiatrisst may be less

knowledgeable about antidepressants - what they're good for and what not.

But Dr. Victor Reus, professor of psychiatry at the University of California at

San Francisco School of Medicine, told WebMD that there may be other

explanations. One possibility, he said, is that doctors who get reimbursed at

lower rates for treating psychiatric conditions may use a different illness code

in their records. Another is that, given the continuing stigma about mental

illness, doctors may be reluctant to indicate mental illness in a patient's

records.

Whatever the explanation, it's clear that Inappropriate prescribing of

antidepressants doesn't just waste time and money. It can expose patients to

withdrawal symptoms when they go off the drugs. In addition, antidepressants are

under increasing scrutiny for their side effects, which include weight gain,

sexual problems, and diabetes.

What advice does Dr. Mojtabai have for patients?

He said any patient who receives a prescription for an antidepressant should ask

the doctor two questions: " What is the reason you are prescribing this for me? "

and " What is the evidence that this is more effective than a placebo? "

The National Institute of Mental Health has more on psychiatric medications.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://m.cbsnews.com/blogsfullstory.rbml?catid=20088652 & feed_id=71 & videofeed=nul\

l

Sorry if this is a double-post. I thought I saw a similar story a couple of days

ago but ddidn't see it when I scanned recent posts.

Terry

Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests

August 05, 2011



(Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS) Not depressed? That doesn't mean your doctor won't hand you a prescription

for antidepressants.

More and more doctors are prescribing the drugs for patients who aren't

suffering from depression or any other mental illness, according to a

provocative new study.

" We've seen a marked increase in antidepressant use among individuals with no

psychiatric diagnosis, " study author Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, an associate professor

at s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a written statement.

" Between 1996 and 2007, the number of visits where individuals were prescribed

antidepressants with no psychiatric diagnoses increased from 59.5 percent to

72.7 percent. "

The study, which involved an analysis of medical records for 230,000 patient

visits, involved only non-psychiatrists - who may be less knowledgeable about

just which conditions respond to antidepressants and which don't, Dr. Mojtabai

told CBS News.It was published in the August 2011 issue of Health Affairs.

In addition to major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, other emotional

problems, antidepressants known to be effective for certain kinds of pain and

other physical complaints. But Dr. Mojtabai said there's scant evidence that

antidepressants offer any relief from the vague complaints for which some

non-psychiatrists prescribe them, including stress, relationship problems, low

self-esteem, and ordinary ache and pains.

The biggest outrage? Some patients were prescribed antidepressants even when the

medical record indicated no reason.

What explains the increasing use of antidepressants? Dr. Mojtabai blamed the

direct-to-consumer drug ads, which can encourage some patients to ask their

doctors for antidepressants. In addition, non-psychiatrisst may be less

knowledgeable about antidepressants - what they're good for and what not.

But Dr. Victor Reus, professor of psychiatry at the University of California at

San Francisco School of Medicine, told WebMD that there may be other

explanations. One possibility, he said, is that doctors who get reimbursed at

lower rates for treating psychiatric conditions may use a different illness code

in their records. Another is that, given the continuing stigma about mental

illness, doctors may be reluctant to indicate mental illness in a patient's

records.

Whatever the explanation, it's clear that Inappropriate prescribing of

antidepressants doesn't just waste time and money. It can expose patients to

withdrawal symptoms when they go off the drugs. In addition, antidepressants are

under increasing scrutiny for their side effects, which include weight gain,

sexual problems, and diabetes.

What advice does Dr. Mojtabai have for patients?

He said any patient who receives a prescription for an antidepressant should ask

the doctor two questions: " What is the reason you are prescribing this for me? "

and " What is the evidence that this is more effective than a placebo? "

The National Institute of Mental Health has more on psychiatric medications.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T