Clinical Psychology

» lili636 - antidepressants and suicide

This topic's relevance has led us to a time when stricter guidelines should be set forth for the prescribing of all psychotropic medicines. If one is depressed enough to require meds such as these, the following items should become a checklist for both physicians and patients: (Also, in the case of children/teenagers, parental involvement is crucial)
First, when a patient presents with depression severe enough for a prescription pad, it would do well to consider that said patient may have already begun experiencing suicidal ideation. That said, most all types of antidepressants require a minimum of about four weeks to get to a therapeutic level in the system. For this reason,close monitoring is essential.
Additionally, these drugs are not meant as a "cure," but rather one piece of the program toward a resolution of depression. Used hand in hand with psychotherapy, antidepressants can serve as a kind of "shock absorber" making it more likely that therapy will be a success.
Too often, a teen is sent to the family doctor with complaints or symptoms of depression, written a prescription, and sent on their merry way with no other means of support. This is where the slippery slope comes into play.
I would advise anyone who sees a doctor once, and is given a prescription for a psychotropic medicine, to run--fast to another doctor or clinic. Likewise, a presciption for any such med should come with a referral to a therapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker, etc. Naturally, if one is profoundly depressed, gets a presciption, and leaves until next appointment, the chance of that patient commiting suicide must be taken under consideration. Awareness is paramount to resolution of this problem.

-- posted by lili636