Anti-depressant watch

[Uzybone]

I heard on MSNBC that the murderer was being treated for depression.

[movie_girl99]

1. no effing way. someone here posted earlier that it would be mentioned

that he was on anti-depressants.

[whistle]

2. That point was stated in the Chicago Tribune article this morning

....I have not seen or heard that mentioned anywhere else

[ananda]

3. All the other school shooters were taking something.

Those psychotropes are dangerous. They will exacerbate
tendencies to violence and suicide.

I would be more surprised to learn that this VTech shooter
wasn't taking something than to learn that he was... simply
because the mental health system here in the USA is
totally fucked.

[Sapere aude]

5. I suffer from depression and take meds. I was clinically depressed for three years.

I now have what my doctor calls a low grade depression. I've had some pretty angry times but looking back on them I find that they almost always occur when I have gone off my meds for a time.

For what it's worth.

[hashibabba]

12. Me too. I'd have committed suicide if I'd NOT gone on the antidepressants.

They saved my life and have greastly improved my qualify of life.

[MuseRider]

14. My story as well.

After all the times I tried to tell them it finally took a suicide threat to get anyone to pay attention. My life has never been better and I am finally happy with myself. Suicide? Nope.

[wicket]

21. Same here

:hug:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. I have been on meds for years, on and off, depending if I could afford them

Now that I do have my meds regularly, they truly have saved my life. But there is a problem here. Without insurance, it is impossible to afford medication. One of my meds is over five dollars per pill and I take three a day. It's a joke! No wonder so many of our prison population is composed of mentally ill people.

[Maat]

9. I agree.

I know that I'm going to get shot down, but I was a mental health, or family therapist, intern for 2 years, and a social worker for seven. I noticed far too many people becoming severely suicidal after taking certain psychotropic medications for several months, when they had not been suicidal before.

They can be lifesavers, but .... (1) they should only be prescribed by a psychiatrist; (2) the patient should be in regular counseling, with a mental health professional consistently observing that patient (and getting to know them); and (3) the patient's friends and/or family members need to be educated about the drugs, and be very observant of any changes in mood or functioning.

Just my two cents' worth.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. IMHO your two cents is worth gold.

My friends and family members who work with severely troubled adolescents make the same observations.

[Maat]

17. Thanks, and ...

"Namaste!," for the divine in me recognizes the divine in you!

And, I'm motivated more than ever to fight for universal health coverage!

[Th1onein]

13. For some people, the SSRI drugs are fine, but for others......

They cause really bad experiences. My entire family has, at one time or another, tried these compounds. Every single one of us had really bad anxiety. My mother had hallucinations. Both of my brothers felt that they were going to lose their minds. And I, myself, had awful, awful anxiety, to the point of panic attacks, while on them.

They might not cause these reactions in everyone, but the few that they do this to need to be absolutely aware of what might happen to them and know that it's okay to get the hell off of them.

[Maat]

16. Amen (n/t)!

[bmbmd]

19. All ssri's

except for Zoloft-are contraindicated in adolescents.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. Which medications? I've taken several and never had any problems....

n/t

[Maat]

23. I was mainly thinking of SSRI's and common antidepressants,

such as Prozac and Wellbutrin (sp?).

They have helped many, and have helped many without problems; they have been prescribed irresponsibly too many times, however, by everyone from general practitioners to "eye doctors." My one client had her "eye doctor" prescribe them.

In my humble opinion, (1) they need to be prescribed by psychiatrists only; (2) the patient needs to participate in an ongoing mental health program that includes counseling (much beyond a fifteen-minute session with a psychiatrist once per month); and (3) the patient needs to designate family and/or friends to be trained a bit on them in order to help observe the patient for any abrupt changes in mood or belief system.

[Wickerman]

4. Imagine that, the guy showed signs of depression at some point! n/t

[Dora]

6. There may be a correlation, but that's it, IMO

I'd like to point out that late adolescence and early adulthood is often when mental illness is beginning to manifest in obvious ways. It's only logical, IMO, that when depression begins to appear that it is treated with antidepressants.

I believe that antidepressants are overprescribed and their use is not monitored closely enough. Howver, I have used and benefitted from anti-deps, and I love people who have benefited from anti-deps. They are a gift to many people who suffer depression, but like all tools, they can be used incorrectly and for ill effect.

[momzno1]

22. many times bipolar is misdiagnosed as depression

and people are put on ssri meds that take away some depression but make them feel agitated and angry and raise mania symptoms. This Mania can also lead to delusions. This from my experience as a clinical social worker/crisis worker.
Anxiety symptoms can also be misdiagnosed mood disorders and all the ativan in the world will not address the real problem.

[Dora]

26. Yes, yes, thank you.

And this is why it's imperative that young adults away from home who are on these medications be counseled frequently so that professionals can monitor any reactions to the meds. The meds run risk of hiding or distorting symptoms, and thereby obscuring a correct diagnosis.

[depakid]

29. While this is true...

See post #27 below.

The symptoms and personality described by the accounts of people who "knew" him suggest a different pathology- or personality disorder.

[piedmont]

30. Misdiagnosis is probably the worst problem with the mental health care system today. nt

[medeak]

7. professor turned him to counseling services after reading paper

he wrote for creative writing class

[Uzybone]

8. From Chicago Tribune website

"Investigators believe Cho at some point had been taking medication for depression. They are examining Cho's computer for more evidence."

[disndat]

10. Must have been Bi-Polar

and paranoid. Very similar behavior symptoms to someone I knew up close. He turned violent into himself and eventually committed suicide.

[depakid]

27. You must not know anything about bipolar disorders

This kid didn't present with a cluster of symptoms even remotely consistent a bipolar disorder.

[bdamomma]

15. the deficit of Mental Health Services is terrible this will be

more of problem when returning soldiers come home, there will be more cases of depression and traumatic stress disorder, but we all know * keeps cutting the funds.

[Maat]

18. Oh, do I agree with you.

That's why I'm going to fight harder than ever for that universal health coverage, with mental health services covered. And, of course, we need to see that there is adequate funding for our returning veterans (who, I hope, could still secure any needed services from the universal system, if need be).

[Forkboy]

25. It's a joke,for sure.

It totally sucks,and I can't even imagine what it's like for some of these people coming home from Iraq ans Afghanistan.

And it's shame because there are so many good people involved that are trying to help,especially the social workers.A lot of good people working their asses off trying to help and getting no support themselves.

:mad:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

28. I Heard Sometimes He Drank Water Too! Poland Spring Watch.