A new study shows that adding antipsychotics along with antidepressants in relieving the symptoms of depression is not effective and includes possible side effects, reports Medical Xpress.
The study finds if individuals show resistance towards antidepressants, prescribing antipsychotic drugs will only increase the possible side effects and show less effect for depression. Drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Celexa used as antidepressants include antipsychotic medications such as aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax) to improve the effectiveness.
These antipsychotic drugs are widely used to control certain behavior such as hallucinations or delusions and especially in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to a Medical Xpress report.
Lead researcher Glen Spielmans, an associate professor in the department of psychology at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, noted that the use of antipsychotic in depression is "marginal." Despite the common use of antipsychotics for depression, it is necessary to understand the complications, Spielmans added.
He suggested that cognitive behavioral therapies have gained popularity with its effectiveness in depression. This method of treatment involves change of thoughts, feelings and behaviors without using psychotics.
Another expert Dr. Bryan Bruno, acting chair of psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital, who was not a part of the study, agreed on avoiding antipsychotics as an initial step for depression. "I have mixed results in terms of how effective they are," he said. "I treat a lot of patients who are on antidepressants and not responding well. Prescribing these drugs is not something I do often because of the costs and because of the side effects."
Spielmans and his team used information from 14 studies to better understand the effectiveness of antipsychotics. After their analysis, it was found that these drugs not only have thin margin in relieving the symptoms of benefits but also invite side effects such as restlessness, sleepiness and weight gain.
"Studies were sometimes designed in a biased manner that may have slanted the results," Spielmans said. "Data were sometimes reported in a way that likely made the drugs appear more effective than they actually were."
The findings appear in the March edition of the journal PLoS Medicine.
