Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people around the world. Many people with depression take antidepressants to help improve their mood and daily functioning.
However, not everyone feels better after taking one antidepressant. In such cases, doctors often try other options. They may either switch the person to another antidepressant or add another medication to the treatment plan. Sometimes, this added medication is an antipsychotic drug.
Antipsychotic drugs like aripiprazole, quetiapine, and olanzapine were originally developed to treat serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
In recent years, doctors have started using these newer antipsychotic drugs to help people with depression who don’t get better with antidepressants alone. While this can help some people, these medications also come with serious risks.
A new study by researchers at Rutgers University and Columbia University has raised concerns about using these drugs in adults with depression. The researchers looked at medical data from nearly 40,000 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who were covered by Medicaid in the United States.
These people had all taken one antidepressant that did not fully help their symptoms. Some of them were then given a newer antipsychotic drug, while others were given a second antidepressant.
The researchers followed these people for several years and also looked at death records to see what happened to them. The results were surprising and troubling.
People who took an antipsychotic drug had a 45% higher chance of dying compared to those who took another antidepressant instead. That means for every 265 people treated with an antipsychotic for one year, there was one extra death.
This is not the first time scientists have found that antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of death. In the past, these drugs were linked to higher death rates in older adults with dementia. But this study is one of the first to show that the risk may also apply to younger adults with depression.
The researchers pointed out that many people in the U.S. are given antipsychotic drugs for depression before even finishing a full trial of an antidepressant. Antidepressants usually take four to six weeks to start working fully. But some doctors switch or add medications too early, possibly leading to unnecessary risks.
Because of this, the researchers are urging doctors to be very careful when prescribing antipsychotic drugs for depression. They recommend trying safer and proven treatments first. Antipsychotic drugs should only be considered when all other options have failed, and when the possible benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
The researchers also believe that more studies are needed. They suggest that future research funded by public health organizations should be done to confirm these findings and provide even stronger evidence.
This study is a reminder to both patients and doctors to think carefully before choosing treatment options. Safety should always come first, especially when the risks may be life-threatening.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health.
For more mental health information, please see recent studies about top foods to tame your stress, and Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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