My point here is to ask the question and put it up for discussion. The links provided are not necessarily the most credible. I have not researched the backgrounds on the doctors named in this post. The information I have provided here is just a sampling of what I found when I typed questions into Google about drugs, guns and mass shootings. I'm just looking for a discussion on this as a possible reasons why mass shootings and suicides are increasing. The quote above is from an article by Dr. Gary G. Kohls a retired physician. While I don't agree with everything in he says, he does make some good points. Additional articles:
Did you know that the people most likely to die of cancer are taking cancer drugs? Did you know that the people most likely to die of kidney disease are taking kidney disease drugs? Did you know that the people most likely to engage is psychiatric behavior take psychiatric drugs?
Now having said that I do think the literature says that there is a possible link between SSRI's and homicidal/suicidal behavior in depressed patients particularly for young adults. But its not what you think
Did you know that the people dying of cancer most likely didn't get cancer from the drug they are taking? Did you know that the people dying of kidney disease most likely didn't get kidney disease from the drug they are taking? Did you know that the people engaging in crazy may very well have gotten crazier from the drugs they are taking to help them?
OK! You can tell me what you think. You can tell me that my statements are factually incorrect. There are many things you can tell me and maybe be correct on. You are not now going to start telling me what I think. OK?
It extends well beyond just these types of drugs. Substance abuse is at the center of most crime. Most criminals are substance abusers. 80% of criminals in jails abuse drugs and or alcohol. 50% of criminals are clinically addicted to one or both. 40% of those committing violent crimes are under the influence of alcohol 95% of campus violent crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol/drugs 2/3's of domestic violence is committed under the influence of alcohol/drugs https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/alcohol-drugs-and-crime
I am not trying to tell you what you think. That from me came across as rude. This happens to be a subject where I have read the research on for work. I will be happy to go into it. But not tonight
I don' believe I was even talking to you but I am pretty well versed in the literature on this particular topic
I would be interested in your perspective. It really did not come across as rude. I was just trying to be funny.
The research on SSRI's is interesting. For young adults with DEPRESSION there has been some increase in suicidal/homicidal ideation in some patients. It is believed that what happens is the depression robs a patient of all their energy to do anything. They may have thoughts of suicide or hurting others but they are far to depressed to do anything about it. SSRI's work so well in young adults that it seems to give them this burst of energy after they start taking it. For some that allows them to enact plans that have been running around their head while depressed. This caused the FDA to put a black box warning on SSRIs. But understand it is impossible to really tell which patients will do this and which won't. These patients are really suffering. So it is a small subgroup of patients and doctors are aware of this and take steps to reduce the risk to patients and others. So this does not apply to Holmes, Lanza or Paddock. I can not say it has NEVER been an issue in any case but I don't think it is fair to say that SSRIs are causing mass shootings
Latest research will not commit to say one way or another, and this too is meaningless in and of itself. Even my comment are less than opinion, as the bulk of my medical clinical and field experience is in Emergency Medicine and not Psych Med.... This is a perfect example of annectdotal correlation, as you can only present clinical observations, yet actual tangible proof is not yet proved in the clinical sense beyond charting and observed effects, important none the less, but not actual proof, yet.
There is enough research for a black box warning from the fda and I am sure you know what that is. It's not proof of anything but ssris for young adults with depression do come with additional considerations which is my only point
Well sure, however, it would be nice if there were better facts to proceed on, however, many aspects of the practice of medicine are less than tangible as is a plain fracture as far as diagnostics and treatment.
