Antidepressants Research Paper

Across America each year, at least 16 million adults suffer from depression, a serious mental illness which negatively impacts one’s sleep, mental capacity, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing (“Depression”). These side effects can take the form of extreme loss of interest or overwhelming sadness and lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, this statistic is far from improving as depression has consistently been named one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. Oddly enough, the National Health Service has recently been reaching record highs in the number of antidepressants prescribed in the US; however, the number of Americans suffering from depression is nevertheless increasing (Campbell, 2017). Therefore, there is …show more content…
Because of this, many turn quickly to antidepressant medications when struggling with depression, and doctors often support the use of antidepressants. Many who are more opposed to the use of exercise as a treatment opt for antidepressants and argue that they are more effective and reliable. Although these medications do produce legitimate benefits for some, especially those who experience deep depression, they are not always the answer. While the pharmaceutical industry’s purpose is to provide medications that aid individuals’ recovering from illnesses or alleviate their pain, this is not usually not reflected in prescriptions. For example, many insurers reimburse psychiatrists for each appointment regardless of what is accomplished during that visit or if the patient was actually helped. To maximize the amount of appointments they fit in their schedule, psychiatrists often jump to prescribing a medication because it is substantially quicker than discussing a patient’s options in depth or even rooting through their emotional baggage. Furthermore, some psychiatrists who consistently prescribe or argue for antidepressants above all other options could be acting through a conflict of interest because of the nature of their job and position. This unfortunate truth exposes an unethical motivation behind the …show more content…
In a study conducted by James Blumenthal, a neuroscientist who specializes in depression, an experiment comprised of three subject groups, one treated with medication alone, the second with medication and exercise, and the third with only exercise, showed striking results. After having essentially equal success in all groups, the patients were followed up with six months after the experiment to determine how effective the treatments were in the long run. While 38% of those prescribed with medication and 31% of those prescribed with both medication and exercise relapsed, a minor 8% of those prescribed with exercise relapsed (Babyak). In the study’s report, it was concluded that “…the present findings suggest that a modest exercise program… is an effective, robust treatment for patients with major depression who are positively inclined to participate in it and that clinical benefits are particularly likely to endure among patients…” (Babyak). After examining all of the countless short-term and long-term effects of physical exercise, it is evident that exercise can provide extraordinary benefits for depressed individuals who participate. Unlike exercise, however, medications can also cause a number of dangerous side effects

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