We have yet another study finding that the number of adults taking anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and Alzheimer’s drugs is rising. Pardon my sarcasm, but DUH!

This one was recently reported in the journal Health Affairs. This study found a 73 percent increase in the use of these drugs between 1996 and 2006. Experts said it shows that more doctors have become familiar with the drugs and are more comfortable prescribing them. Well, I don’t know about that. But I do know this: Critics argue that the numbers prove that Americans are overmedicated.

Undoubtedly, some are. What we don’t hear is that this decade saw the introduction of some of the most successful drugs for treating mental illness and Alzheimer’s: Lexapro 2002; Wellbutrin XL 2002; Lamictal for bipolar 2003; Celexa goes generic 2003; Cymbalta 2004; Aricept and Exelon for Alzheimer’s 2006.

No one mentions the hit-or-miss factor: Because no one knows how these drugs work, it can take months of trying different drug combinations before a doctor finds the right one or the right dose. How many of us have half empty prescription bill bottles for drugs that did not work?

And what about the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 which greatly expanded prescription drug coverage for the elderly? Could that account for some of the increase?

Obviously I am biased. I have been on antidepressants and a mood stabilizer since 2006. They not only saved my life, they made it much, much better. We often hear horror stories about overmedicated kids and zombie grandmothers. But we rarely hear the success stories because there is so much stigma about using these drugs.

I am not going to use these numbers to say we are overmedicated. I am not going to use these numbers to prove anything. Numbers always look impressive. But they can be twisted like a strand of DNA. They are just numbers. Period.

Wait! News flash! I see another story in the paper this morning about a study that says that antidepressant use among young people has fallen – since the drugs began carrying a “black box” warning. The study also found a DECREASE in the number of depression diagnosis! Holy cow! Does this mean that doctors have been misdiagnosing mental illness?

The researcher who conducted the study said she can’t explain why the numbers have fallen.

“It could be that people who have depression aren’t coming forth and getting diagnosed,” she said.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (June 3, 2009)

Rant-o-Rama: Yet another study…puh-leez | Depression On My Mind (June 6, 2009)

    Last reviewed: 3 Jun 2009