Researchers have found that women are more likely than men to turn to antidepressants after a breakup. This phenomenon is attributed to gender-specific roles within families and disparities in responsibilities and economic status.

A <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2024/01/04/jech-2023-221529">study</a> examining antidepressant usage among 228,644 individuals aged 50 to 70 in Finland from 1996 to 2018 revealed intriguing insights. The cohort consisted of people&nbsp;who experienced divorce, separation, or bereavement due to their partner's death.

<h2>Breakdown of findings</h2>

Of the participants, 33 per cent were divorced, 30 per cent&nbsp;had separated from their partners, and 37 per cent&nbsp;were bereaved. Antidepressant use increased in the six months leading up to divorce for both men (5 per cent) and women (7 per cent), with usage declining post-divorce but remaining elevated compared to pre-divorce levels.

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<h2>Are there any gender discrepancies?</h2>

Women exhibited a more significant increase in antidepressant use in the four years before a breakup compared to men, with a 6 per cent&nbsp;rise for women versus 3.2 per cent&nbsp;for men. While men's antidepressant use returned to pre-breakup levels within 12 months, it continued to rise among women.

Researchers attribute the heightened impact of union dissolution on women's mental health to gender-specific family roles, responsibilities, and economic disparities.

Despite these challenges, women's broader social networks, increased social support, and healthier behaviours might facilitate better coping mechanisms, potentially reducing their vulnerability during transitions.

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Following the death of a partner, both men and women experienced higher antidepressant usage up to four years before the event. Women showed a 7 per cent&nbsp;increase in usage three months before and after bereavement, compared to 5.5 per cent among men.

Approximately 53,460 people entered new relationships within two to three years among the study participants, with men demonstrating a higher likelihood of doing so than women, according to the&nbsp;findings.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Researchers have found that women are more likely than men to turn to antidepressants after a breakup. This phenomenon is attributed to gender-specific roles within families and disparities in responsibilities and economic status.

Researchers have found that women are more likely than men to turn to antidepressants after a breakup. This phenomenon is attributed to gender-specific roles within families and disparities in responsibilities and economic status. A study examining antidepressant usage among 228,644 individuals aged 50 to 70 in Finland from 1996 to 2018 revealed intriguing insights. The cohort consisted of people who experienced divorce, separation, or bereavement due to their partner's death. Breakdown of findings Of the participants, 33 per cent were divorced, 30 per cent had separated from their partners, and 37 per cent were bereaved. Antidepressant use increased in the six months leading up to divorce for both men (5 per cent) and women (7 per cent), with usage declining post-divorce but remaining elevated compared to pre-divorce levels. Also read | Inheritance of attraction? 'Hot parents' study claims children of attractive people earn more Are there any gender discrepancies? Women exhibited a more significant increase in antidepressant use in the four years before a breakup compared to men, with a 6 per cent rise for women versus 3.2 per cent for men. While men's antidepressant use returned to pre-breakup levels within 12 months, it continued to rise among women. Researchers attribute the heightened impact of union dissolution on women's mental health to gender-specific family roles, responsibilities, and economic disparities. Despite these challenges, women's broader social networks, increased social support, and healthier behaviours might facilitate better coping mechanisms, potentially reducing their vulnerability during transitions. Also watch | Gravitas | Elmo's simple tweet triggers a tsunami of angst | Is the world depressed? Following the death of a partner, both men and women experienced higher antidepressant usage up to four years before the event. Women showed a 7 per cent increase in usage three months before and after bereavement, compared to 5.5 per cent among men. Approximately 53,460 people entered new relationships within two to three years among the study participants, with men demonstrating a higher likelihood of doing so than women, according to the findings. (With inputs from agencies)

Separation impacts women most, heightened use of anti-depressant proves, as per study

The happiest countries are also some of the biggest consumers of antidepressants. Is safeguarding mental health the secret sauce to happiness? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Decoding the World Happiness report

According to a recent study, few antidepressants should be prescribed by doctors and for a shorter period of time. The research has been published in the `Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin Journal`. 
 
The use of antidepressants is also associated with a range of side effects, while the clinical trial data mostly doesn`t assess the outcomes that matter most to patients, said the authors. And there is no clinically relevant difference between these drugs and placebo on depression. 
 
While there might be a role for antidepressants among patients with severe depression, the cons may outweigh the pros in those with mild to moderate depression or in those whose symptoms don`t yet qualify as depression, they added.&nbsp; 
 
The prescribing of antidepressants, primarily the newer generation classes--selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)--has risen steadily in England, with an estimated 7.8 million people issued at least one prescription in 2019-20. This is equivalent to an antidepressant prescribed to one in every six adults, with prescription rates 50 per cent higher among women.&nbsp; 
 
Much of the evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressants in adults came from placebo-controlled trials lasting just 6-12 weeks. And the results didn`t meet the threshold for a clinically important difference, said the authors. 
The findings in teenagers and children were even less convincing. Yet the number of 12 to 17 year-olds prescribed antidepressants more than doubled between 2005 and 2017, they added.What`s more, most of the studies didn`t include outcomes that matter most to patients, such as social functioning or quality of life, focusing instead only on symptom measures.Side effects are also common.&nbsp; 
 
Around 1 in 5 patients on SSRIs reported daytime sleepiness, dry mouth, profuse sweating, or weight gain; at least 1 in 4 reported sexual difficulties; and about 1 in 10 reported restlessness, muscle spasms or twitching, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea or dizziness. The prevalence of side effects may be even higher among those taking antidepressants for more than 3 years and included emotional numbness and mental `fogginess`. 
 
Patients trying to come off their treatment often experienced withdrawal symptoms: these can include anxiety, insomnia, depression, agitation and appetite changes, and can interfere with social functioning and professional life, particularly if treatment is stopped abruptly. 
 
"The recognition that withdrawal effects from antidepressants are more common, more long-lasting and more severe than previously recognized prompted the Royal College of Psychiatrists to issue a position paper, alerting prescribers to this issue, including the recommendation that patients be informed of this risk," noted the authors. 
Gradual dose tapering may best help patients to stop, said the authors, although "there is no guarantee that patients will avoid consequences such as long-lasting sexual side effects or persistent withdrawal symptoms even with a cautious taper," they wrote. 
 
But they pointed out, "The gradual reductions in the dose and the very small final doses required for pharmacologically informed tapering will necessitate the use of formulations of medication other than the commonly available tablet forms."&nbsp; 
 
Patients attempting to stop antidepressant use, particularly long term users, may very well need additional help, said the authors. But "there are currently no dedicated NHS services to support antidepressant de-prescribing," they added. 
 
They concluded, "There continues to be considerable uncertainty about the benefits of antidepressant use in the short- and long-term, particularly in regard to the lack of a clinically significant difference between antidepressant and placebo treatment. "In light of this uncertain balance of benefits and harms, we should re-visit the widespread--and growing--prescription of antidepressants," they added. 
 
They went on to say, "Increasing knowledge about the difficulty that some patients have in stopping antidepressants should lead to more cautious prescribing practice--with antidepressants given to fewer patients, for shorter periods of time."&nbsp;

According to a recent study, few antidepressants should be prescribed by doctors and for a shorter period of time. The research has been published in the `Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin Journal`.

According to a recent study, few antidepressants should be prescribed by doctors and for a shorter period of time. The research has been published in the `Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin Journal`. The use of antidepressants is also associated with a range of side effects, while the clinical trial data mostly doesn`t assess the outcomes that matter most to patients, said the authors. And there is no clinically relevant difference between these drugs and placebo on depression. While there might be a role for antidepressants among patients with severe depression, the cons may outweigh the pros in those with mild to moderate depression or in those whose symptoms don`t yet qualify as depression, they added. The prescribing of antidepressants, primarily the newer generation classes--selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)--has risen steadily in England, with an estimated 7.8 million people issued at least one prescription in 2019-20. This is equivalent to an antidepressant prescribed to one in every six adults, with prescription rates 50 per cent higher among women. Much of the evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressants in adults came from placebo-controlled trials lasting just 6-12 weeks. And the results didn`t meet the threshold for a clinically important difference, said the authors. The findings in teenagers and children were even less convincing. Yet the number of 12 to 17 year-olds prescribed antidepressants more than doubled between 2005 and 2017, they added.What`s more, most of the studies didn`t include outcomes that matter most to patients, such as social functioning or quality of life, focusing instead only on symptom measures.Side effects are also common. Around 1 in 5 patients on SSRIs reported daytime sleepiness, dry mouth, profuse sweating, or weight gain; at least 1 in 4 reported sexual difficulties; and about 1 in 10 reported restlessness, muscle spasms or twitching, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea or dizziness. The prevalence of side effects may be even higher among those taking antidepressants for more than 3 years and included emotional numbness and mental `fogginess`. Patients trying to come off their treatment often experienced withdrawal symptoms: these can include anxiety, insomnia, depression, agitation and appetite changes, and can interfere with social functioning and professional life, particularly if treatment is stopped abruptly. "The recognition that withdrawal effects from antidepressants are more common, more long-lasting and more severe than previously recognized prompted the Royal College of Psychiatrists to issue a position paper, alerting prescribers to this issue, including the recommendation that patients be informed of this risk," noted the authors. Gradual dose tapering may best help patients to stop, said the authors, although "there is no guarantee that patients will avoid consequences such as long-lasting sexual side effects or persistent withdrawal symptoms even with a cautious taper," they wrote. But they pointed out, "The gradual reductions in the dose and the very small final doses required for pharmacologically informed tapering will necessitate the use of formulations of medication other than the commonly available tablet forms." Patients attempting to stop antidepressant use, particularly long term users, may very well need additional help, said the authors. But "there are currently no dedicated NHS services to support antidepressant de-prescribing," they added. They concluded, "There continues to be considerable uncertainty about the benefits of antidepressant use in the short- and long-term, particularly in regard to the lack of a clinically significant difference between antidepressant and placebo treatment. "In light of this uncertain balance of benefits and harms, we should re-visit the widespread--and growing--prescription of antidepressants," they added. They went on to say, "Increasing knowledge about the difficulty that some patients have in stopping antidepressants should lead to more cautious prescribing practice--with antidepressants given to fewer patients, for shorter periods of time."

Prescribe fewer antidepressants, for shorter period: Study

British doctors handed out 231,791 antidepressant prescriptions for kids aged 5 to 16. Why are so many kids suffering from mental health issues? Are antidepressants good for children? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Record number of children on antidepressants

A vast research study that sought to settle a long-standing debate about whether or not anti-depressant drugs really work has found they are indeed effective in relieving acute depression in adults.

The international study - a meta-analysis pooling results of 522 trials covering 21 commonly-used antidepressants and almost 120,000 patients - uncovered a range of outcomes, with some drugs proving more effective than others and some having fewer side effects.

But all 21 drugs - including both off-patent generic and newer, patented drugs - were more effective than placebos, or dummy pills, the results showed.

&ldquo;Antidepressants are routinely used worldwide yet there remains considerable debate about their effectiveness and tolerability,&rdquo; said John Ioannidis of Stanford University in the United States, who worked on a team of researchers led by Andrea Cipriani of Britain&rsquo;s Oxford University.

Cipriani said these findings now offered &ldquo;the best available evidence to inform and guide doctors and patients&rdquo; and should reassure people with depression that drugs can help.

&ldquo;Antidepressants can be an effective tool to treat major depression, but this does not necessarily mean antidepressants should always be the first line of treatment,&rdquo; he told a briefing in London.

According to the World Health Organization, some 300 million people worldwide have depression. While both pharmacological and psychological treatments are available, only one in six people with depression in rich countries gets effective treatment. That drops to one in 27 patients in poor and middle-income countries.

Effectiveness varies

The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, found some differences in the effectiveness of the 21 drugs.

In general, newer antidepressants tended to be better tolerated due to fewer side effects, while the most effective drug in terms of reducing depressive symptoms was amitriptyline - a drug first discovered in the 1950s.

Some well-known medicines - such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine, sold under the Prozac brand - were slightly less effective but better tolerated.

The scientists noted that their study could only look at average effects, so should not be interpreted as showing that antidepressants work in every patient. Only around 60 percent of people prescribed depression medication improve, Cipriani said.

&ldquo;Unfortunately, we know that about one-third of patients with depression will not respond to them,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s clear there is still a need to improve treatments further.&rdquo;

Several experts not directly involved in the study said its results gave a clear message.

&ldquo;This meta-analysis finally puts to bed the controversy on antidepressants,&rdquo; said Carmine Pariante, a professor at Britain&rsquo;s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

James Warner, a psychiatrist at Imperial College London, added: &ldquo;Depression causes misery to countless thousands every year and this study adds to the existing evidence that effective treatments are available.&rdquo;

Cipriani said these findings now offered “the best available evidence to inform and guide doctors and patients” and should reassure people with depression that drugs can help

A vast research study that sought to settle a long-standing debate about whether or not anti-depressant drugs really work has found they are indeed effective in relieving acute depression in adults. The international study - a meta-analysis pooling results of 522 trials covering 21 commonly-used antidepressants and almost 120,000 patients - uncovered a range of outcomes, with some drugs proving more effective than others and some having fewer side effects. But all 21 drugs - including both off-patent generic and newer, patented drugs - were more effective than placebos, or dummy pills, the results showed. “Antidepressants are routinely used worldwide yet there remains considerable debate about their effectiveness and tolerability,” said John Ioannidis of Stanford University in the United States, who worked on a team of researchers led by Andrea Cipriani of Britain’s Oxford University. Cipriani said these findings now offered “the best available evidence to inform and guide doctors and patients” and should reassure people with depression that drugs can help. “Antidepressants can be an effective tool to treat major depression, but this does not necessarily mean antidepressants should always be the first line of treatment,” he told a briefing in London. According to the World Health Organization, some 300 million people worldwide have depression. While both pharmacological and psychological treatments are available, only one in six people with depression in rich countries gets effective treatment. That drops to one in 27 patients in poor and middle-income countries. Effectiveness varies The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, found some differences in the effectiveness of the 21 drugs. In general, newer antidepressants tended to be better tolerated due to fewer side effects, while the most effective drug in terms of reducing depressive symptoms was amitriptyline - a drug first discovered in the 1950s. Some well-known medicines - such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine, sold under the Prozac brand - were slightly less effective but better tolerated. The scientists noted that their study could only look at average effects, so should not be interpreted as showing that antidepressants work in every patient. Only around 60 percent of people prescribed depression medication improve, Cipriani said. “Unfortunately, we know that about one-third of patients with depression will not respond to them,” he said. “It’s clear there is still a need to improve treatments further.” Several experts not directly involved in the study said its results gave a clear message. “This meta-analysis finally puts to bed the controversy on antidepressants,” said Carmine Pariante, a professor at Britain’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. James Warner, a psychiatrist at Imperial College London, added: “Depression causes misery to countless thousands every year and this study adds to the existing evidence that effective treatments are available.”

Study seeks to end antidepressant debate: The drugs do work

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