Debunking and Destigmatizing SSRI Claims
In the wake of another senseless mass shooting event, some are once again pointing to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) as a cause of aggression and mass shootings. As we’ve said before, there is no evidence to support this, but this week we decided to dive a bit deeper.
First, for anyone who doesn’t know, SSRIs are a class of antidepressants. They have been on the market for decades, with the first SSRI, fluoxetine (brand name Prozac), introduced in 1987. Since then, other types of SSRIs have been developed, and they are frequently prescribed to address depression and anxiety.
Starting antidepressants can be stigmatizing in and of itself. Too many people think that it means they are broken, that they will be judged for needing medication, that these medications will change their personality or who they are, or that it will cause a lifestyle change. Yet mental health needs to be discussed in the same way we talk about physical health. If you get sick, there is no stigma about taking a medication, nor should there be for a mental health condition.
And as if that weren’t enough, some people claim that SSRIs are addictive or cause homicidal behavior up to and including mass shootings. They don’t, but there are a few reasons why people claim they do.
First, several studies have found a correlation between violent behavior and SSRI use. However, these studies have not found a causal link, and many don’t control for other variables, meaning that there could be another cause. As you may have heard, correlation does not equal causation. More controlled studies, such as this one, have found no evidence of increased aggression and no cause for concern with SSRI use. Unfortunately, the rumors and misinformation continue.
One reason they persist is that there is a side effect with some antidepressants that they increase suicidal ideation. This is rare, but it is one of several reasons why it is important to communicate frequently with your doctor when starting a new medication. Some SSRIs don’t work for everyone, and sometimes there is trial and error behind finding the right one. Some opponents of SSRIs lump this potential side effect in with violent behavior, often by cherry-picking examples of mass shootings where the perpetrator was also on SSRIs.
Another complication is that sometimes people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed as having major depressive disorder and given SSRIs. The problem is that if you give someone with bipolar disorder an antidepressant, it can trigger a manic episode that can be dangerous for the patient and for those around them. However, complications can occur any time a patient is misdiagnosed and given the wrong medication. This is why it is important that a doctor understand the full picture of your mental and medical history.
At The LegalMind Society, we aren’t in favor of any one treatment or any one tool over another. We don’t recommend medication, nor do we caution against it, just as we don’t recommend or caution against other approaches to recovery. Everyone’s road to recovery is different, and it is important to understand that. Our interest is merely to provide information so that people can make better decisions. We encourage policymakers and decision makers to lower barriers to accessing mental health care, and that includes hoping that they follow the established science when making their recommendations. Whether or not a specific medication is right for you is a discussion and decision that should be made with your doctor. We merely hope that we’ve given you a foundation to better understand that conversation. And hopefully, if people speak openly and honestly about SSRIs, we can reduce the stigma and misinformation about them that still exist.