Antidepressants for veterans defended

WASHINGTON — Congress is worried that antidepressant drugs may be causing more suicides among members of the military than they prevent. But a University of Utah dean told lawmakers Wednesday that the benefits of such drugs far outweigh their risks.

M. David Rudd, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the U., also said the real danger is that some depressed soldiers and veterans are less willing to seek treatment because they or their families have heard that drugs may increase risk of suicide.

"The reality is that the efficacy of treatment — both psychotherapy and medications — far outweighs the observed risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors," he told the House Veteran Affairs Committee. Rudd testified on behalf of the American Psychological Association.

"There are periods of acute risk when medications are essential," he said.

"When a soldier comes in, when a veteran comes in, and is acutely distressed and acutely disturbed and having significant sleep disturbance, significant anxiety symptoms … we need to do something quickly in order to resolve those symptoms and help them adjust," Rudd said. "Medicines do that."

Controversy arose after some antidepressant drugs included labels warning that use could increase suicidal thoughts among adolescents and young adults. The committee called the hearing because many scientists say the military would be wiser to rely on therapy alone instead of on drugs or even a mixed use of drugs and therapy.

Rudd testified that in times of extreme risk, "patients often experience difficulty fully participating in psychotherapy because symptoms limit their ability to concentrate, engage and, most importantly, learn" — so medications can help such people.

Rudd said people consider suicide as an option to reduce emotional suffering. He said medications "provide a treatment option that can more quickly target symptoms facilitating a patient's feeling of hopelessness."

He added, "Behavioral treatments take time, with patients gradually building critical skills and resolving traumas. Until adequate skills are established and refined, medications can fill the gap, buying what is oftentimes life-saving time."

Rudd said, "About 60 percent of the people that I treat are on medication. A high number of those individuals have simply had their lives saved because they have had symptom reduction during these early phases of psychotherapy."

However, other scientists testified that psychiatric drugs may hurt patients' judgment and may lead them to lose control over emotions and actions, leading to suicide.

Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., said he invited scientists on both sides of the question to testify because "suicides among service members and veterans continue to increase at an alarming rate, far exceeding the comparable suicide rates among the general population."

This story was reported from Salt Lake City.

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