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A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
[Are patients with depression pressured within the healthcare system to take antidepressant medication against their
Reinhard Maß1, Kerstin Backhaus1, Bodo Karsten Unkelbach1
1Allgemeinpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Zentrum für Seelische Gesundheit Marienheide, Marienheide, Germany.
Objective:
Antidepressants (ADs) are being prescribed with increasing frequency, although their benefit is questionable. For several years, patients with depression have been successfully treated without ADs on the ward "Aaron T. Beck." In this context, reports accumulated from patients stating that they had previously been pressured to take ADs against their will.
Methods:
A total of 146 inpatients with depression participated in a follow-up survey six months after discharge; 128 (87.7%) had been discharged without ADs.
Results:
Fifty-four patients (37.0%) reported having experienced pressure to take an AD, mostly from physicians. In most cases, the AD was reportedly taken against the patient's own will. In particular, women and patients with difficulties in setting boundaries reported this experience more frequently.
Conclusion:
Patients with depression often experience pressure to take an AD against their will. The treatment of these patients therefore requires particular empathy.
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