“Of those surveyed, 62 percent reported sexual dysfunction, 60 percent complained of feeling emotionally numb, 41 percent said they felt less positive and 39 percent reported thoughts of suicide. In the 18 to 25 age group, 56 percent reported suicidal thoughts.”

Radio New Zealand News
March 5, 2014
By Lois Williams

The Mental Health Foundation says the results of a new study of antidepressants should spark a rethink of treatment options.

A survey by Auckland University researchers found the emotional side effects of the widely-used drugs are more common and more serious than previously thought.

Researchers asked more than 1800 people in an on-line questionnaire how they felt when they were taking antidepressants.

Most said said the drugs reduced their depression, but for many, that came at the cost of other, unwelcome effects.

Of those surveyed, 62 percent reported sexual dysfunction, 60 percent complained of feeling emotionally numb, 41 percent said they felt less positive and 39 percent reported thoughts of suicide. In the 18 to 25 age group, 56 percent reported suicidal thoughts.

One of the researchers, Claire Cartwright, said one man wrote that his sex-life was the only good thing left in his life, but the medication had taken that away.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said the results of the study, the first of its kind in this country, were worrying, particularly when a third of those questioned said they had not been warned about possible adverse emotional or interpersonal effects.

Ms Clements said antidepressants are prescribed to make people feel better, and it was disturbing that a large group reported feeling worse. Read the rest of the article here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/237971/anti-depressant-study-%27disturbing%27