Study indicates that anti-depressants may be over-prescribed

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry says that more than two-thirds of people who have been prescribed anti-depressants are not actually suffering from depression.

One Wicomico County clinical psychologist agrees with this research.

Dr. Michael Finegan says,”one of the problems that occur in the Unites States is that an individual is prescribed a psychiatric medication and left on it for years.”

Dr. Finegan says that the majority of doctors that prescribe anti-depressants are primary care physicians and OBGYN’s. In his opinion those doctors may not actually have the skills a clinical psychiatrist has to evaluate depression.

“We look at physical symptoms in addition to that sense of feeling down, hurting, blue. We are also looking for perhaps sleep disturbance, excessive crying, appetite disturbance, reduced feelings of worth,” says Dr. Finegan.

One pharmacist in Fruitland  agrees that an individual’s case of depression must be validated with more screenings and surveys. However, she doesn’t agree that depressants are over-prescribed.

Charlotte Wilson, a clinical pharmacist says, “in my opinion I find that depression is under-prescribed because as a society we are afraid to talk about it.”

Charlotte Wilson says that people might not feel comfortable openly admitting that they’re depressed because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
  
“Depression is a subjective symptom and we can only trust what the patient tells us,” says Charlotte Wilson.

Wilson says that Apple pharmacy recently started offering a screening and survey that doctors can use to evaluate depression. She says these can help primary physicians make an accurate diagnosis  leading to a prescription that better suits the patients needs.