Posted by SLS on September 16, 2015, at 0:02:50
In reply to Young people on SSRI's commit more crimes?, posted by Hello321 on September 15, 2015, at 21:57:16
The study being referred to in this article seems to be very well-done, although it must be interpreted carefully. There are many variables and scenarios to be considered. I don't doubt the validity of the numbers, but I think they need to be clarified and placed into context. I wish I had a background in statistics.
http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001875
> This seems about right considering Antidepressants have already been shown to decrease the concern for ones own wellbeing.
I didn't know that. Is this SSRIs only?
> And when one is less concerned about themselves, surely theyre likely to be less concerned about the wellbeing of others.
You might be right. However, it might also have to do with a reduced ability to process risks and suppress impulses, even though one remains concerned with their wellbeing. I had thought that the explanation for this related to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex in adolescence, but it seems to be more complicated than that.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2475802/
There is little doubt in my mind that antidepressants affect young people with developing brains differently than they do adults. I guess the question then becomes how many young people are saved by antidepressants compared to those being hurt by them. Can those who would be hurt by them be managed closely enough by their doctors in order to prevent deleterious behaviors?
It is unfortunate that antidepressants can induce suicidal and violent effects in some people - both adults and children. Statistical risks versus statistical benefits? It has been my impression over the years that the statistics indicate that the benefits far outweigh the risks, and that the risks can be minimized if doctors would explain the risks and see their patients once a week early in treatment.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1082509
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150901/msgs/1082515.html