2000s
In 2004, the FDA’s Dr. Robert Temple testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, suggesting that there might be a connection between the pediatric use of Paxil and increased suicidality. The testimony shocked the public, as the FDA had previously ignored such suggestions and instead readily sanctioned the use of many different SSRIs.
With a “black box” warning label now mandated to appear on all antidepressants and new studies establishing a correlation between antidepressant use and suicide rates, sales began to slump. With the economic downturn of 2008, sales once again rose, with many people feeling symptoms of depression, as a result of the hardship. In 2009, antidepressant sales had grown by 4% compared to the previous year, reaching $9.9 billion, making it the fourth most popular drug type in the U.S. By 2010, sales had surpassed $11 billion. Owing the recent surge in sales mostly to difficult economic times, four out of every five antidepressant prescriptions were given by medical doctors who do not specialize in psychiatry, further contributing to the accessibility of such drugs (Gatyas).
Recent scholarly articles have suggested that antidepressant efficacy is often poorly assessed, as drug companies’ own studies do not take into account other patient-specific factors. Patients with other diagnoses—such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders—cannot be effectively treated with a generic drug designed for those with depression only (Rubin).
Additionally, a majority of patients being prescribed antidepressants today have not been formally diagnosed with any form of psychosis—a number which grew from 59.5% in 1996 to 72.7% in 2007. For these casual users, the drugs often have insignificant effects on treating mild depression, while all the same addictive qualities and harmful side effects of such drugs remain (Hayes).
While SSRIs remain the most popular class of antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Effexor and Cymbalta, are also gaining strength in the market, and other classes of drugs have since been created that affect dopamine (a neurotransmitter often overlooked in the treatment of depression) along with serotonin or norepinephrine, or both.
History of Antidepressants
References
Hayes, Emily. “Nonpsychiatric Prescribing Fuels Rise in Antidepressant Use.” The Pink Sheet. 05 Aug 2011.
Gatyas, Gary. “IMS Health Reports U.S. Prescription Sales Grew 5.1 Percent in 2009, to $300.3 Billion.” IMS Health. 01 Apr 2010.
Rubin, Eugene. “How Many People Are Treated for Depression?” Psychology Today. 20 Jan 2011.
With a “black box” warning label now mandated to appear on all antidepressants and new studies establishing a correlation between antidepressant use and suicide rates, sales began to slump. With the economic downturn of 2008, sales once again rose, with many people feeling symptoms of depression, as a result of the hardship. In 2009, antidepressant sales had grown by 4% compared to the previous year, reaching $9.9 billion, making it the fourth most popular drug type in the U.S. By 2010, sales had surpassed $11 billion. Owing the recent surge in sales mostly to difficult economic times, four out of every five antidepressant prescriptions were given by medical doctors who do not specialize in psychiatry, further contributing to the accessibility of such drugs (Gatyas).
Recent scholarly articles have suggested that antidepressant efficacy is often poorly assessed, as drug companies’ own studies do not take into account other patient-specific factors. Patients with other diagnoses—such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders—cannot be effectively treated with a generic drug designed for those with depression only (Rubin).
Additionally, a majority of patients being prescribed antidepressants today have not been formally diagnosed with any form of psychosis—a number which grew from 59.5% in 1996 to 72.7% in 2007. For these casual users, the drugs often have insignificant effects on treating mild depression, while all the same addictive qualities and harmful side effects of such drugs remain (Hayes).
While SSRIs remain the most popular class of antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Effexor and Cymbalta, are also gaining strength in the market, and other classes of drugs have since been created that affect dopamine (a neurotransmitter often overlooked in the treatment of depression) along with serotonin or norepinephrine, or both.
History of Antidepressants
References
Hayes, Emily. “Nonpsychiatric Prescribing Fuels Rise in Antidepressant Use.” The Pink Sheet. 05 Aug 2011.
Gatyas, Gary. “IMS Health Reports U.S. Prescription Sales Grew 5.1 Percent in 2009, to $300.3 Billion.” IMS Health. 01 Apr 2010.
Rubin, Eugene. “How Many People Are Treated for Depression?” Psychology Today. 20 Jan 2011.
Conference
Every year, members of the Society get together for our annual conference. Read about speakers, ticket pricing, and the schedule of this year's events.
Life
In "Life," the history of assisted suicide and the controversy surrounding the issue are discussed.
Body
In "Body," the history and issues of Gender Identity Disorder are summarized.