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The long debate over the increased risk of suicides among children who take antidepressants may soon grow to include adults, prompting some experts to call for clinical trials. What raised those concerns: A trio of studies appearing in this week's British Medical Journal that report mixed results.
Although two studies showed no significant link between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and suicide, a third found adults taking these drugs were twice as likely to attempt suicide as those receiving a dummy pill or other treatments, but no more likely to complete the act.
While the absolute risk of suicide is low, the authors of the latter study contend the widespread use of SSRIs makes the rampant use of SSRIs a broader health concern. They also warn major limitations in published trials also may have led to underestimates of the risk of suicide attempts.
Folks, understanding and taming depression is one of the major challenges many of you face in rebuilding and maintaining your optimal health. In nearly every patient I see, mental health is a key factor in their illnesses because it plays a major role in their immune systems which can have a negative effect on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels too. That said, I believe you can work to provide your body with tools to compensate for the bioelectrical short-circuiting that can cause serious disruption in many of your body's important systems without taking toxic drugs.
I've found energy psychology tools, like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), can be very useful to battle the dual effects of stress and depression. A form of psychological acupressure, EFT is based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for more than 5,000 years, but without the invasiveness of needles.
And, there's no questioning the power of prayer either. So many studies have documented it and the science that proves its healing power is very solid. In fact, I believe it's criminally negligent for physicians not to recommend it. If you're interested in learning more about the prayer and how it affects medical science, I recommend reading Dr. Larry Dossey's article on Prayer and Medical Science.
British Medical Journal February 19, 2005 330:373-374 (free full text article)
New York Times February 18, 2005
Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune February 18, 2005
EurekAlert February 18, 2005