Depression and Antidepressants

By John M Grohol PsyD
March 21, 2006

Many people who take antidepressant medications stop taking them after only a short time. Doctors have long known this, because the people stop coming for appointments. Recent research (1) confirms this — 42% stop taking their medication for depression within the first 30 days. You know what else happens in that first 30 days? Medication side effects. You know what usually doesn’t happen in those first 30 days? Relief from depressive symptoms.

Not surpisingly, folks who were in psychotherapy were far more likely to continue on their medications than those who were not receiving psychotherapy. This again confirms the benefits of combined treatment for depression — psychotherapy + medication = best treatment. If you’re not in psychotherapy (or haven’t even considered it), now’s the time to rethink that.

Another study (2) shows that 47% of people who take an SSRI antidepressant medication receive a reduction of more than 50% of the severity of their symptoms at or after 8 weeks of treatment. This means mainly that antidepressant treatment takes time, just like psychotherapy. Usually more than 8 weeks. I know a lot of people don’t have patience, yet patience is exactly what is required when seeking treatment for depression.

1. Continuity of Antidepressant Treatment for Adults With Depression in the United States
American Journal of Psychiatry 163:101-108, January 2006.

2. Evaluation of Outcomes With Citalopram for Depression Using Measurement-Based Care in STAR*D: Implications for Clinical Practice
American Journal of Psychiatry 163:28-40, January 2006.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues, and the intersection of technology and psychology since 1992.