Reply #54: SSRIs may cause behavioral activation in an otherwise suicidal person. [View All]

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

The optimal therapy for chronic depression is medication + cognitive-behavior therapy. The problem lies not in the medication, but in the failure of insurance companies and the government to MANDATE the combination of meds & psychotherapy.

Behavioral activation following SSRI (and other anti-depressant medication) use is LONG KNOWN to the medical community and psychologists in particular. The deaths surrounding SSRI use (particularly in the young) are the RESULT OF POOR TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP and NOT the medication itself.

You should focus your anger on the insurance companies (i.e., parity for mental health coverage) involved in weakening the proper mileau of treatment for psychiatric disorders. Insurance companies are often only willing to pay for medication, but NOT the additional and necessary component of cognitive-behavior therapy and patient follow-up.

JB