QUESTION: "Do you think antidepressants are over prescribed today?"

Feb 02, 2016

123

QUESTION: "Do you think antidepressants are over prescribed today?"I believe that antidepressants are both over prescribed and under prescribed. Over prescribed because those who aren't actually clinically depressed are incorrectly diagnosed and given medication. Because medication will not work for these individuals, they experience either no difference or adverse effects, giving them reason to accuse the medication of not working. Thus, creating the stigma against medication for mental health. As a result of this stigma, antidepressants are also under prescribed because those who actually need it fail to seek help.

Calvin and Adam like this.

2 comments

Join the conversation!Sign In

Minna ChanBacker

The over-/ under-prescription of medications, as well as the correct/ incorrect dosage and choice of medications, are issues commonly seen in my firm's medical malpractice cases. It seems like your app will be a useful tool to assist both sides. :)

Feb 09, 20160

Pamela KrikorianBacker

I do feel that they are over-prescribed. I've always wanted to understand how doctors can accurately diagnose a problem that leads them to prescribe anti-depressants. It seems unlikely that such a high percentage of people, say in the U.S., actually need this medication.

Feb 03, 20160

About This Project

Will This Mobile Resource Help Healthcare Professionals Prescribe Antidepressants?

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Understanding pharmacological agents is key to treatment selection. For the increasing involvement of primary care physicians (PCPs) in mental health, we are creating a mobile web application resource to help PCPs determine whether patient symptoms warrant clinical treatment of depression and if indicated, drug selection. We predict this will greatly decrease cases of misdiagnosis and lack of patient compliance due to ineffective prescriptions or intolerable side effects.