“To do so in a comprehensive manner, it must also examine the extent to which DoD is prescribing antidepressants to its service members, especially those deployed in‐theatre, and the methods it is employing to ensure that sufficient observation periods are conducted by properly trained mental health providers. In short, my concern is how DoD is managing the sheer volume and manner by which antidepressant drugs are being administered to our service men and women overseas.

“To this end, I ask that you compile and provide to my office a report identifying the estimated number and percentage of troops since June 2005 who have been prescribed antidepressant medications while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is my understanding that electronic data is readily available for this purpose, and can be retrieved without compromising the privacy of patients or violating the protections of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

“The men and women serving in our military deserve the utmost assurance that Congress is doing everything in its power to see that they are provided the best medical care available. As part of that commitment, we must also ensure that these same men and women, volunteering to serve our Nation, are not being exposed to what may potentially endanger them when they seek the medical and mental healthcare they need.”

The Pentagon, though, has refused to comment on the issue and said Secretary Gates will respond directly back to the senator.

Back in 2004 the US FDA  warned that children and adults taking antidepressants could become suicidal in the first weeks of therapy and that physicians should watch patients closely when first giving the drugs or changing dosages. The FDA is asking drug manufacturers to place explicit warnings about the drugs' side effects, including the risk of suicide, on their labels.

But experts felt that the FDA warning most unusual. “The FDA has traditionally based its decisions on convincing evidence. But there is still no convincing evidence linking antidepressants and suicide. (Congress has been pressuring the FDA to take a stand on this issue.) Whether scientifically warranted or not, the FDA's warning is a good reminder that antidepressants are not without risks,” said Barbara K. Hecht and Frederick Hecht, Medical Editors of MedicineNet.com.

"In a study reported in the same year, the BMJ too said, “Concern is growing that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may precipitate suicidal behaviour, especially in children

"Reassuringly, although antidepressant prescribing in Britain has more than doubled in the past 15 years, population suicide rates have fallen.

"If the risks of SSRI associated suicidal behaviour seen in children were to apply to suicide in adults, the number of "antidepressant induced" suicides would be small enough to be masked by currently favourable suicide trends

Long term studies are required to assess the risks and benefits to population health of recent large scale rises in antidepressant prescribing.”



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