Brits view antidepressant medication as a 'dirty little habit'

Britons consider antidepressants to be a 'habit' like drugs, new research claims

IT WOULD seem the stigma around antidepressants is as rife as ever, according to new research.

 

Nearly 30 years after the introduction of Prozac, people diagnosed with depression are still questioning the legitimacy of antidepressants.

Brits are worried about the medication being "akin to illicit substance taking" with fears of addiction most commonly spoken about. 

 

While it may seem like a trivial subject to some, such concerns have a knock-on effect - and it could stop people experiencing severe depression from seeking treatment. 

Prozac and similar medicines have received mixed reviews since they were first introduced in the 1980s, with some experts believing they may be ineffective for many people.

 

The pills help people suffering with depression feel better again

The research - conducted by the University of Westminster - has revealed even before people take their first antidepressant, they are influenced by the controversial publicity surrounding the medication.

Many people diagnosed with depression talked as if their antidepressant use was 'pseudo-illicit'.

A one man in the UK said of his medication, "it feels very sordid...my dirty little habit, a dirty little stash".

One woman from Australia said, "… it was amazing…within two hours I could feel different,” while a man from the UK said, “It was like being on really strong drugs… made your pupils dilate". 

 

Prozac and similar medicines have received mixed reviews

Professor Damien Ridge from University of Westminster, commented on the results: "Given our findings, it is no wonder people in distress find it so difficult to decode the social messages they receive about antidepressants. 

"Of particular concern, those experiencing severe depression who are the most likely to benefit from taking antidepressant medication may think twice about using a potentially life-saving treatment."

He added: "People experiencing depression – no matter how positive about antidepressants – are still forced to engage at some level with a range of underlying moral concerns about antidepressants."