1
Tanner Brandon
Professor Dempster
UNIV200
18 February 2016
Research Question: How do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the happiness of an adult with diagnosed major depressive
disorder (MDD)? Can the treatment of depression by use of SSRIs be improved upon in order to increase happiness?
Sources/Sub Claims
1. The physical side
effects of SSRIs
outweigh the happiness
potential of the
antidepressants.
Antidepressants and
Sexual Dysfunction
- “Conditions associated
with depression and
sexual dysfunction
include most chronic
ailments including
Parkinson’s disease,
diabetes, chronic pain,
cancer and ischaemic
heart disease” (Werneke,
Northey, and Bhugra
385). Even though I have
not done an annotated
bibliography for this
source yet, I have found
another source that zones
in on the issues
mentioned in this quote;
the two sources could
support one another. Not
only are depression and
sexual dysfunction
problems in themselves,
they can accompany
2. The
mental/emotional side
effects of SSRIs
outweigh the
happiness potential of
the antidepressants.
- “Conversely, sexual
dysfunction may
result in
psychological
symptoms such as
low mood, poor selfesteem, performance
anxiety and guilt. In
this way, sexual
problems can also
contribute to and
possibly even cause
depression”
(Werneke, Northey,
and Bhugra 385). This
quote indicates that
purpose of why I want
to include sexual
dysfunction in my
argument of
antidepressants
causing unhappiness.
It shows that a major
3. The benefits of
taking SSRIs
outweigh the added
side effects.
N/A
4. Benefits and side
effects of SSRIs vary
for each individual
and should be
considered on a
personal basis.
N/A
5. Treatment of
depression by use of
SSRIs can be
improved upon in
order to increase
happiness.
- The probability of
increased sexual
dysfunction depends
on the type of
antidepressant. While
SSRIs are known for
some of the highest
rates of
antidepressants, a
possible treatment
plan could be to
simply switch to a
different
antidepressant.
**There are
specific examples
listed in the article
that I can go back
and use if need be.
Very scientific
though.**
2
Perceptions of Young
Women…
physical barriers such as
those mentioned in this
quote. Diabetes, chronic
pain, cancer, and others
mentioned most
definitely would decrease
happiness levels that
SSRIs could not fix.
- Around 70% of patients
with diagnosed
depression experience
difficulties in the areas of
libido (sexual desire),
orgasms, and/or arousal
(Werneke, Northey, and
Bhugra 384).
symptom of SSRIs,
being sexual
dysfunction, can very
well increase
depression. This is
basically
counteracting the
purpose of taking the
SSRI in the first place
considering the
psychological
consequences that are
associated with it.
N/A
- “It was the women’s
opinion that society
had adopted a
negative image of
psychotropic
medicines and the
media had attached it
to SSRIs” (Knudsen,
Hansen, and Traulsen
248). This quote
indicates that the
women feel as though
by admitting to taking
SSRIs, the society
will over-all look
negatively upon them.
This reflects a major
reason for the cause
of the stigmatization.
- “The women told
very few people about
N/A
- “When experiencing N/A
emotional problems,
the young women felt
that they had lost their
sense of self. They
felt they did not
function in society
and perceived
themselves as
stigmatized if their
condition was
revealed.” (Knudsen,
Hansen, and Traulsen
251). This quote is
referencing before the
women went on
SSRIs, therefore the
women had felt
stigma both before
and after the use of
the antidepressants,
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their problems and
selected their
confidants carefully.
For the most part, the
information was
shared with close
family members or
close friends only.
The number of people
who knew differed
from woman to
woman, but all of
them kept it a secret
from some in their
social network”
(Knudsen, Hansen,
and Traulsen 249).
First off, this quote
might need to be
shortened if it is used
in the actual paper.
Secondly, this quote
brings up the question
and relates back to my
theme as I ask: If
SSRIs are suppose to
make people feel
happier and relieve
negative emotions,
why do the women
feel the need to hide it
from their friends and
families? The
embarrassment and
fear of judgment here
is over-powering the
chemical benefits
from the pills.
just in different forms.
The increase in
happiness that is
supposedly gained
from the use of SSRIs
does not necessarily
change someone’s
feelings of
misplacement in
society nor does it
change someone’s
feelings of being
misunderstood. Overall, the quote shows
that antidepressants
are limited to the
happiness they can
provide as they can
only alter certain
emotions and
feelings.
4
The Effects of
Antidepressants on
Human Brain…
- “There is evidence that
N/A
the stimulation of
serotonergic function in
healthy humans causes an
impairment of sustained
attention and working
memory” (Bellani et al.
1547). This perfectly
resembles my first sub
claim and acts almost as
evidence that in
conclusion, SSRIs can
harm over-all memory
and attention. Although
most initial thoughts lead
towards this decreasing
happiness in a person, it
does have the slight
possibility of improving
happiness in situations
where the person does not
want to remember a
traumatic life event. In
this case, the numbing
effect of antidepressants
and SSRIs ability to
decrease/numb memory
would be a positive and
could increase over-all
memory. Therefore this
effect is all about
perspective.
N/A
N/A
Taking
Antidepressants…
N/A
- “Four out of ten
people treated with
- “When taken
correctly,
N/A
- “On this regard,
evaluating the brain
structural and
functional
antidepressant effects
will allow a better
understanding of the
pathogenesis of MDD
and its response to
AD treatment”
(Bellani et al. 1544).
First off, AD means
antidepressant and
MDD means major
depressive disorder.
This quote could be
used in the ending of
my paper as to what
we can do to improve
happiness in terms of
fighting depression.
Other than ideas such
as to change the type
of antidepressants, the
quote shows it could
be important to
increase scientific
studies on the topic so
that we can further
understand the overall effects that
antidepressants such
as SSRIs have on the
brain and thus body.
N/A
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antidepressants
improve with the first
one they try. If the
first antidepressant
medication doesn’t
help, the second or
third often will. Most
people eventually find
one that works for
them ” (Taking). The
statistics lean towards
the fact that almost
half of all people who
taking antidepressants
find success with
them.
antidepressants will
not change your
personality. They will
help you feel like
yourself again and
return to your
previous level of
functioning. (If a
person who isn’t
depressed takes
antidepressants, they
do not improve that
person’s mood or
functioning.) Rarely,
people experience
apathy or loss of
emotions while on
certain
antidepressants. When
this happens,
switching to a
different
antidepressant may
help.]” (Taking). This
quote shows both
sides of the equation.
Yes, it is true that
antidepressants have
the chance of making
someone feel zombie
like, but this can be
fixed or altered and
the cases are far more
few compared to
those who feel
perfectly themselves.
Being able to accept
taking antidepressants
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Antidepressants and
Their Side…
- “Unfortunately, she kept N/A
eating too much.
According to Michael
Jenike, a professor at
Harvard, SSRIs are ‘more
likely to cause weight
gain than any other class
of antidepressants.’ ”
(Russell 30). Research
links happiness to health
due to its correlations to
energy levels and body
image. If SSRIs cause
this extreme form of
weight gain and are some
of the worst of
antidepressants at weight
gain, how are they
expected to make a huge
difference in happiness
levels? This relates again
to the fact that
antidepressants should
maybe only be used as a
stepping stone rather than
final solution due to the
health risks associated
with the pills. Health
concerns definitely do not
as a normality can
greatly increase
happiness, and relates
to source 2 in that it
can counteract women
feeling ashamed and
stigmatized when they
come to terms with
taking SSRIs.
- 60 to 70 percent
- “…she had lost faith N/A
show improvement
in antidepressants.
with about 30 percent “They never took care
of antidepressant
of the root problem of
users feeling complete my depression. It’s
relief (Russell 41).
like putting a BandAid over a huge cut,”
she said” (Russell 37).
This coincides with
my third sub claim.
Antidepressants are
not for everyone and
do not treat every
patient. Some
patients, like Chris
speaking here, see
antidepressants as just
a temporary fix over a
larger problem,
emphasized by the
Band-Aid analogy.
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increase happiness.
Treating Depression
N/A
N/A
- “Antidepressants
are all about 70
percent effective in
relieving symptoms
of depression,
although some may
be more effective for
some subtypes than
others. Also, people
who do not respond
to one
antidepressant have
a reasonable chance
of responding to
another” (Glick
161). Another
supportive statistic
that goes with my
counter argument in
that SSRIs will
increase happiness
in an individual.
Seems like for the
most part, they are
effective in their job
even though they
have side effects.
The important part
to note is that
sometimes an SSRI is
ineffective, but that
does not mean all
SSRIs are ineffective.
Therefore, if side
- “Likewise, a patient
in whom the suicide
risk is high should
receive the most
intensive and
aggressive
treatment available.
Although some
patients actually
have used the older
classes of
antidepressants to
kill themselves,
antidepressants
have doubtless
saved many lives by
treating the
underlying
depression” (Glick
156). This again
resembles my first
sub claim. Patients
with aggressive
depression require
aggressive
treatment (or higher
doses in some
cases). It also shows
that antidepressants
have saved the lives
of those who are
suicidal, which
would represent an
increase in
N/A
8
Body-image
Dissatisfaction…
- “…recognizes nine symptoms of depression:
depressed mood, loss of interest, change in
eating/appetite/weight, sleep problems, motor
agitation or retardation, fatigue, worthlessness
or guilt, indecisiveness or troubles in
concentrating, and suicidal thoughts”
(Rosenström 254). This quote coincides with
sub claim 1 and evidence 1. The
irony/importance of this quote comes into play
when you google the side effects of SSRIs.
Looking at almost all of my previous sources
shows side effects such as motor dysfunction,
insomnia, weight gain, and possible suicidal
thoughts. If the problems associated with SSRIs
match the criteria for diagnosing depression,
how are SSRIs suppose to increase happiness?
It shows here that SSRIs have the real
possibility of actually increasing depression.
This quote goes with my main argument.
effects are so severe
that happiness is not
gained from SSRIs,
another SSRI could
be different and
more effective.
N/A
happiness and a
benefit from the
SSRI.
N/A
- “…dysfunctional
attitude towards
oneself might
represent a
potentially
important target for
cognitive therapies
and preventable
interventions”
(Rosenström et al.
259). First off,
cognitive therapy is
a psychotherapy that
helps people learn
how to properly
diffuse thoughts and
control depressive
emotions. The
reason why I
selected this quote is
because it could go
with my papers
conclusion. This
quote correlates
with solutions to
unhappiness
associated with
SSRIs. It shows that
perhaps we could
take the SSRIs,
allowing the
Movement
Disorders…
- Around 45% of SSRI
users experiences
akathisia, around 30%
experienced dystonia
(Leo 449).
N/A
- “For most patients, N/A
the benefits of SSRI
use far out weigh the
potential problems
of an SSRI induced
movement disorder.
Nonetheless, EPS
can occur
consequent to SSRI
use, presumably
because of an
increase in
serotonin’s
inhibitory influences
on dopaminergic
path ways” (Leo
454). This quote
summarizes the
reason why I wanted
to use this source in
this first place. The
argument is
displayed here in
terms of movement
disorder side effects:
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benefits, and couple
it with practices
such as those
mentioned here
being therapies and
interventions, in
order to limit the
negative effects of
the side effects such
as weight gain and
negative body-image
from that.
N/A
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The Lonely Mouse…
- The use of Fluoxetine
(a newer type of SSRI)
caused increased
weight gain, but at a
lesser amount of about
an average 1/8th more
weight gain in
depressed mice than in
non-depressed mice
groups.
The Experience of
Depression
N/A
Do the side effects
outweigh the
benefits of the
SSRIs? According to
Leo, the benefits far
surpass the side
effects of motor
function.
- “Individually
housed females that
received fluoxetine
treatment had their
level of behavioral
despair reduced to
that of group-housed
females” (Martin
and Brown 203).
This just shows that
the “depressed”
mice living in
isolation were
successfully treated
by the use of the
SSRI. Aside from the
weight gain, the
antidepressants still
worked to show
reduced rates of
depression in the
mice.
- “Depression preys
- “We note its signs
on our mind, we sink and effects as
into it, we are
including feelings of
downcast, we are
and tendencies
crestfallen, bowed
towards isolation
down, cut up,
and withdrawal; a
careworn. Even if we terrible slowing of
- Article reiterates
that exact cause and
method of
depression is still
not understood
(therefore treatment
methods are
debatable and need
to be tested more
extensively).
N/A
N/A
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seek the company of
others we are the
skeleton at the feast.
The very vision of
the world becomes
our metaphor when
we experience the
‘blackness’ of
despair” (Rowe 12).
I read this as
depression taking
over all aspects of
ones life which falls
in line with my first
sub claim.
Depression is
debilitating.
our thought and
action, so that even
trivial tasks become
too great to be
undertaken…”
(Rowe 14). This
quote corresponds
with sub claim three
almost perfectly. It is
similar to the
previous source
dealing with
isolation in the mice.
Isolation and
depression correlate
in that depression
leads to feelings of
isolation and
despair. Taking
SSRIs have the
potential of solving
this issue to increase
happiness.
Full Source Titles: Antidepressants and Sexual Dysfunction, Perceptions of Young Women Using SSRI Antidepressants- A Reclassification of
Stigma, The Effects of Antidepressants on Human Brain as Detected by Imaging Studies. Focus on Major Depression, Taking Antidepressants:
Truth About Side Effects, Antidepressants and Their Side Effects: Managing the Risks, Treating Depression, Body-image Dissatisfaction Is
Strongly Associated with Chronic Dysphoria, Movement Disorders Associated with the Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors, The Lonely
Mouse: Verification of a Separation-Induced Model of Depression in Female Mice, & The Experience of Depression.