How to make better use of antidepressants
Identify those who really need them, and wean other people off them
A five-minute chat with her doctor is how Adele Framer’s 11-year ordeal began. She complained about work-related stress. For that, she was prescribed paroxetine, a common antidepressant. There was no conversation about alternatives, such as psychotherapy, nor a discussion of the drug’s side-effects or when to stop taking it. “I had a very typical patient experience and a very typical patient attitude at the time,” says Ms Framer. “I was a believer that it would be a great idea to just solve my problem with an antidepressant.”
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “The need for a clear head”
Science & technology October 22nd 2022
From the October 22nd 2022 edition
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