A few months ago, I received a call from a journalist working on the BBC’s Disclosure programme. They wanted me to be a part of a documentary about antidepressants. The film was meant to present a balanced perspective on the topic, showcasing different viewpoints. Recently, there has been a lot of negative press surrounding these medications due to concerns about psychiatric side effects. However, as someone who has personally benefited from antidepressants, I am a strong advocate for their use.
In my previous article, I discussed how I’ve been prescribed antidepressants on three different occasions to help with my anxiety. The first time was when I was just 15 years old, and it helped me overcome my debilitating panic and get through my GCSE exams. The reporter had read this article and visited my office in June for an interview. During the interview, I expressed a nuanced opinion. As a health journalist, I acknowledge the potential downsides of antidepressants such as side effects and withdrawal. I am aware that some experts believe the benefits may be overstated and outweighed by the harms.
Despite these concerns, my personal experience with antidepressants has been overwhelmingly positive. I only encountered issues during my most recent time on the treatment, during which I experienced heightened anxiety for the first two weeks. However, this subsided, and overall, the medication has helped me control my anxiety. I mentioned that when I eventually come off them, I will adhere to the latest NHS guidelines and gradually reduce my dosage to avoid any shock to my system. I found this to be an interesting point for discussion.
Unfortunately, the reporter called me last week to inform me that my interview had been cut from the documentary due to technical difficulties during filming. While this may be the case, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was also because I wasn’t critical enough of antidepressants. Instead, they chose to feature another individual’s story – 18-year-old Dylan Stallan, who tragically took his own life while taking the antidepressant sertraline. While it is essential to address cases like these and learn from them, it’s important to recognize that they are thankfully rare occurrences. Therefore, it feels like a missed opportunity that a more ordinary story, like my own, wasn’t also included.
I must admit, my story may not have been as compelling, but that’s precisely the point. Antidepressants are taken by millions of people in the UK every year to alleviate anxiety and depression, often debilitating conditions. For the majority of patients, the benefits of these medications far outweigh the risks. However, the documentary did not feel balanced. Despite featuring two mildly positive personal stories, it heavily focused on the negatives, such as sexual issues, withdrawal symptoms, and declining mental health associated with these drugs.
I am not denying that these concerns are valid. Like any medication, antidepressants can have side effects that affect some individuals. My worry is that continuously portraying antidepressants in a negative light may lead to people refusing or discontinuing treatment that could potentially be life-saving. I am not alone in this concern. Professor Allan Young, head of academic psychiatry at King’s College London, comments that recent documentaries have falsely portrayed antidepressants as being overprescribed, addictive, and a cause of suicide. This misinformation is not only unhelpful but also dangerous, as it may lead to deaths and suicides by discouraging individuals from seeking treatment.
One may wonder how harmful a documentary can truly be. The answer is very harmful. An example of this is seen in the case of the cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins. In 2013, an Australian documentary called The Heart Of The Matter aired, questioning the benefits and labeling the pills as “toxic.” This resulted in a significant decrease in statin prescriptions and potentially thousands of avoidable heart attacks and strokes.
Similar effects have been observed with other drugs that have faced controversy. Moreover, scare stories not only deter people from taking their prescribed medications but can also increase the likelihood of experiencing perceived side effects. Clinical trials show that placebos, which contain no active ingredients, can induce side effects simply because patients believe they might. This phenomenon, known as the “nocebo effect,” is often seen with treatments that receive negative publicity.
Of course, this does not mean that every individual who reports side effects is imagining them. However, it does demonstrate that patient perceptions can have genuine physical impacts. This issue extends beyond statins. Recent research from the University of Auckland revealed an increase in reported side effects of the antidepressant venlafaxine following articles that questioned its effectiveness and linked it to suicidal thoughts.
The recent BBC documentaries about antidepressants, Disclosure and Panorama, focused heavily on the potential harms and controversies surrounding these medications. While it is important to shed light on these issues, it seems that the documentaries lacked a balanced perspective. Some experts’ voices were left out, which could have provided information about the benefits of antidepressants and evidence contradicting the negative viewpoints presented.
It is crucial to understand the potential risks and benefits of any medication, including antidepressants. However, it is equally important to avoid sensationalized and one-sided portrayals that may discourage individuals from seeking appropriate treatment.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
