One of the most heated debates about the medical world outside of the medical world is the efficacy of anti-depressants. Certainly, some of the side effects are cause for concern, but ongoing misconceptions about mental health fuel misconceptions about the most common treatments. People with depression hear “get some sunshine”, “pull yourself together” and “force a smile” all the time. Sometimes, they’re even told that tablets are “useless” and “poison” usually based on myths how anti-depressants turn people into zombies, make them suicidal and many more. However, a recent study into the efficacy of such treatment has just delivered some important results: anti-depressants work.

The Study’s Primary Findings

The recent study (called a meta-analysis) analysed the results of 522 trials. This was a total of 116,477 people and it looked at 21 of the most common anti-depressant prescription tablets. Each study compared results from these treatments against placebo. They found consistently that each medicine type performed better than placebo for tackling acute depression. Most remarkably, it showed big differences in the effects of each medicine type. While the study overall may interest the general public, the variation in performance will certainly interest medical professionals.

A meta-analysis is not a clinical trial, but an examination of the results of a large number of clinical trials in a hope of coming to a definitive conclusion. It takes the raw data from each and compiles it for statistical analysis. The idea is to eliminate or mitigate rogue results that may skew the reality of the efficacy of a piece of research. The larger the numbers, the more likely such rogues are diluted, and genuine trends can be picked out.

The Implications of this Study

Acknowledging their findings, the meta-analysis authors felt that their report could aid in the allocation of prescriptions, helping doctors make the right choice for each patient. The limits of the paper do not mean that everyone should now switch to anti-depressants and that is not its intention. The meta-analysis looked purely at the results from studies without taking into account age, gender, or personal details. Therapy may still be the best course of action for people presently undergoing (and benefiting from) that type of treatment.

According to the study, the five most effective were:anti-depressants

• Agomelatine: which also has some of the fewest side effects associated with SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricyclics such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and withdrawal
• Amitriptyline: This tricyclic antidepressant treats major mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder
• Escitalopram: An SSRI, this treats major depressive and anxiety disorders
• Mirtazapine: Like agomelatine, it’s an atypical antidepressant used in depression. It also functions as a mild sedative
• Paroxetine: Like many of the most popular, this is an SSRI used for depression, OCD and anxiety

Anti-Depressants Prescription Statistics

It is estimated that GPs prescribed 64.7 million prescriptions for antidepressants in England alone in 2016. That’s double the comparative number from 2006. This has raised concerns in government and the media but few seem interested in the reason for the increase; most media comments have attacked their overuse. Certainly, it’s possible that over-prescribing medicine is the problem, but others some say that our openness about mental illness and a willingness to get help has led to this increase. Others suggest the stresses of modern life, especially in the workplace, has created an epidemic of mental illness.

In June 2017, NHS chiefs reported that anti-depressants experienced the largest growth area for prescriptions. However, it is not the medicine group with the largest number of prescriptions – that remains medicine for hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure. Data is yet to be released for 2018 and with governmental commitments to redirect NHS cash into mental health services.