There has been a significant increase in the number of Americans using psychiatric medications such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. Approximately 20% of American’s used a psychiatric medication last year. And, 25% of women used psychiatric medication last year.
Other research has indicated that medication use is rising while participation in psychotherapy and counseling has been declining. This is a concerning pattern as many people might benefit from psychotherapy and learn skills to last a lifetime. Use of medication, while clearly often helpful, will not help clients learn new skills for managing their mood, anxiety and emotional lives. Additionally, many medications come with negative side effects. Anxiety medications in particular can negatively impact cognitive functions such as attention and memory.
If you are experiencing depression, anxiety or other psychological issues, consider working with a psychologist to develop more effective ways to feel better. And, often the most effective approach to treating these difficulties is to utilize both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology together.
For more information about psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatments, contact Commonwealth Psychology Associates via their website or by calling them at 617-259-189. Help is available.
Excerpt:
A new report shows that 1 in 5 adult Americans took at least 1 psychiatric medication in 2010. In women, the statistic was 1 in 4.
The report, issued by Medco Health Solutions, which conducted the study, analyzed trends in mental health medication usage among approximately 2.5 million insured Americans, comparing use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD drugs, and antianxiety treatments from 2001 to 2010.
“Over the past decade, there has been a significant uptick in the use of medications to treat a variety of mental health problems; what is not as clear is if more people — especially women, are actually developing psychological disorders that require treatment, or if they are more willing to seek out help and clinicians are better at diagnosing these conditions than they once were,” David Muzina, MD, a psychiatrist and national practice leader of the Medco Neuroscience Therapeutic Resource Center, said in a release.
“Women are generally more frequent users of healthcare, but they may also be bearing the emotional brunt of a decade that started with the horror of 9/11 and since has seen several wars and economic turmoil,” he added.
Antidepressants were the most commonly used medications, with more than 20% of women receiving them. Antianxiolytics were also widely used by women, at almost twice the rate of men. The greatest use was in women aged 45 to 65 years, 11% of whom were taking an antianxiety medication in 2010.
via Americas Use of Psychotropic Medications on the Rise.
