The training body for psychiatrists in this country has said that there is ‘no evidence’ of a link existing between antidepressant use and homicide, and that research has failed to establish a causal link between the use of these medications and suicide.
In a detailed three-page document released recently, the College of Psychiatry of Ireland said recent discussions surround-ing these risks had been ‘speculative’ and failed to recognise that untreated depression can have a fatal outcome.
It was also concerned that a mooted link between antidepressants and violence, which it stressed did not have a basis in scientific evidence, risked perpetuating a ‘false and stigmatising stereotype’ that people living with mental illness were violent.
While not referring directly to the case, the College’s statement is a long-awaited direct response to issues raised by the tragic cases of 22-year-old Shane Clancy, who died in Bray in August 2009, after he had stabbed to death Sebastian Creane.
The College of Psychiatry of Ireland was not allowed to give evidence at the inquest into Clancy’s death.
The College indicated that evidence was given at the recent inquest at the Wicklow Coroner’s Court that the self-inflicted death of a person — and by inference, the killing of another person — was most likely the direct result of SSRI antidepressant use, specifically, citalopram.
“We address the inquest here simply to respond to the sworn expert evidence, which was, in our view, speculative,” the College stated, in reference to evidence given by Prof David Healy of the University of Cardiff, who said that while ‘extraordinarily rare’, SSRIs could spark suicidal or homicidal reactions.
Responding to this latest statement, Prof Healy was reported as stating that it was ‘astonishing’ that the College would say there was no scientific basis to claims there were risks.
The College recognised that suicide and homicide were events of the ‘utmost gravity’ and any possible role of any treatment in precipitating such tragedies warranted the most thorough investigation. “However, discussion of the risks involved must be based on evidence rather than conjecture or unfounded opinion,” it added.
It also recognised that, at an individual level, the period early in treatment may be a time of increased risk for suicidality, and that this was something of which all doctors should be aware.
About IMTtemp
Loading ...
The College of Psychiatry of Ireland said there was no evidence of a link between antidepressants and homicide while Professor David Healy said there was a link between antidepressants and violence and suicidal acts.
There is however a more fundamental point that precedes the use of antidepressants, a point consistently overlooked or dismissed by psychiatrists.
Underlying the widespread use of antidepressants is the psychiatric idea of a so-called ‘chemical imbalance of the brain’. Psychiatrists have shrouded the idea of a ‘chemical imbalance’ in medical legitimacy, when in fact it is unproven opinion; it is not scientific fact. It is a marketing tool. An unscientific theory that generates £320 million in antidepressant sales in the UK is very good business, but extremely bad medicine.
There is no concept of a correct chemical ‘balance’ in a person’s brain, so claiming the existence of an ‘imbalance’ in the brain is testimony to the worldwide psychiatric propaganda on the subject.
Presented in countless illustrations in popular magazines, psychiatric researchers have dissected, labelled and analysed the brain while assailing the public with the latest theory of what is wrong with it. What is lacking, as with all psychiatric theory, is scientific proof. There are no blood tests, X-rays, brain scans or any scientific/medical means by which psychiatry’s diagnoses can be verified.
Real medicine addresses actual physical disease, while psychiatric diagnoses are devoted solely to the categorisation of symptoms.
People do experience problems and upsets in life that may result in mental troubles, sometimes very serious. But to represent that these troubles are caused by ‘chemical imbalances’ that can only be alleviated with dangerous pills is dishonest, harmful and often deadly. They mask the real cause of problems in life.