'The Batman killer - a prescription to murder'

[Nearly Sane]

Fascinating account of James Holmes, and the possible effect of SSRIs on his mental health. To an extent I think it is a bit too pat but it is certainly a possible consideration. He doesn't seem that different from what I was like  when they describe him as a teenager. Lees outgoing, a bit less confident but not that far. Having had my own unsuccessful encounter with SSRIs, who knows...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/aurora_shooting

[Rhiannon]

Sertroline nearly killed me but it didn't make me a danger to anyone else. Yet I know people for whom it's been a life saver.

Isn't there something about SSRIs and young people being a very bad mix?

[Nearly Sane]

Indeed there is, see below. As you, and the article note, for millions it appears to be a boon. I am very conscious though that there are likely to be multiple factors here. Coming from a city where an eponymous kiss and smile ate both signs of violence, and long before the days of SSRIs, it doesn't seem too buried as an instinct.


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/16/study-finds-young-people-on-antidepressants-more-prone-to-violence

[Rhiannon]

We know that something can trigger bipolar in adults. It seems entirely possible that SSRIs can trigger psychosis. The question is, what are the factors that lead to the triggering? Why does it happen to some and not others?

[floo]

My grandson, who had anxiety syndrome as well as Asperger's syndrome was prescribed medication when he was a pre-teen to help him with his anxiety. It didn't seem to help much, and he would fly into the most awful rages, which he hadn't done before. It was also discovered that it was delaying him going through puberty, his mother hadn't been informed this might happen. She immediately took him off it, and low and behold, not only did he go through puberty, his anxiety and rages were no longer a problem.

[Nearly Sane]

We know that something can trigger bipolar in adults. It seems entirely possible that SSRIs can trigger psychosis. The question is, what are the factors that lead to the triggering? Why does it happen to some and not others?

Agreed that is the question. Perhaps the factors are so multi factored as not to be identifiable? Perhaps even if we remove the SSRIs, others who find benefit from them currently would be triggered by other things?

[Rhiannon]

Agreed that is the question. Perhaps the factors are so multi factored as not to be identifiable? Perhaps even if we remove the SSRIs, others who find benefit from them currently would be triggered by other things?

Absolutely.

[Nearly Sane]

My grandson, who had anxiety syndrome as well as Asperger's syndrome was prescribed medication when he was a pre-teen to help him with his anxiety. It didn't seem to help much, and he would fly into the most awful rages, which he hadn't done before. It was also discovered that it was delaying him going through puberty, his mother hadn't been informed this might happen. She immediately took him off it, and low and behold, not only did he go through puberty, his anxiety and rages were no longer a problem.

This may sound a little callous, please accept it isn't meant to. There is a possibility that the drugs by changing the balance and then being withdrawn from 'worked' in the end though not as intended. Perhaps in a sense of a mirror image to James Holmes.

Your grandson's case though illustrates the whole problem around prescribing drugs for young people.

[Rhiannon]

Your grandson's case though illustrates the whole problem around prescribing drugs for young people.

Which may or may not be SSRIs. There are other anxiety meds.