A recent study by researchers from Rutgers University and Columbia University has found a serious health risk linked to newer antipsychotic medications in adults with depression.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE by Tobias Gerhard and his team, shows that adults who add an antipsychotic drug to their depression treatment may face a much higher risk of death than those who simply add a second antidepressant.
Depression is a common mental illness, and while antidepressants are usually the first treatment, they do not always work for everyone. If the first medication doesn’t help, doctors may try other treatment plans.
These plans can include switching to a different antidepressant or adding another medication to help. Some doctors choose to add a second antidepressant, while others may add newer antipsychotic medications like aripiprazole, quetiapine, or olanzapine.
While these antipsychotics can help some people, they also come with serious side effects. Previous studies have shown that they can increase the risk of death, especially in older adults with dementia. This new research looked at whether these risks also apply to younger adults with depression.
The study used data from over 39,000 Medicaid patients aged 25 to 64, collected between 2001 and 2010. The researchers looked at two groups: people who added an antipsychotic drug to their treatment and people who added a second antidepressant instead. They used information from the National Death Index to track who died during the study.
The results showed that people who started an antipsychotic had a 45% higher risk of dying than those who added another antidepressant. In real numbers, this means that for every 265 people treated with an antipsychotic for one year, there was one extra death.
These findings suggest that doctors should be very careful when prescribing antipsychotics for depression. The benefits of these drugs are often small and debated, while the risks—especially the risk of death—can be serious.
The study also pointed out a problem with how these drugs are being used. Many patients are prescribed antipsychotics without first completing a full trial of just one antidepressant.
Guidelines usually recommend giving an antidepressant at least four to six weeks to work before adding or changing treatments. Skipping this step may expose patients to unnecessary risks.
The researchers say that antipsychotic medications should only be used when other, safer options have been tried first. Doctors need to weigh the possible benefits against the risks, and patients should be involved in making these decisions.
While more studies are needed to confirm these findings, especially through controlled clinical trials, this research is a strong warning. It reminds us to be careful with powerful medications and to always look for the safest path to recovery when treating depression.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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