Antidepressants may not be that beneficial

Antidepressants are a vital tool in the recovery from mental illness, but new research suggests that in some cases they could do more harm than good.

A study published in the Frontiers in Psychology journal found that the benefits of antidepressants, even when viewed in the most optimistic fashion, are often outweighed by the negatives.

The elevated risks include developmental problems in infants, issues with libido, digestive problems, as well as abnormal bleeding and stroke in the elderly.

Paul Andrews, an evolutionary biologist at McMaster University and lead author of the article, said that while this information has been available for some time, no one has yet collated them in this way.

"It's important because millions of people are prescribed anti-depressants each year, and the conventional wisdom about these drugs is that they’re safe and effective," he explained.

"We need to be much more cautious about the widespread use of these drugs."

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