Emotional side-effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Some people who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants report that their experience of emotions is 'blunted'. This phenomenon is poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To understand patients' experiences of this phenomenon.


METHODS
Qualitative study, gathering data through individual interviews, a group interview and validation interviews; and searching patient websites for relevant posts.


RESULTS
There was strong evidence that some people taking SSRIs experience significant emotional symptoms that they strongly attribute to their antidepressant. These emotional symptoms can be described within six key themes. A seventh theme represents the impact of these side-effects on everyday life, and an eighth represents participants' reasons for attributing these symptoms to their antidepressant. Most participants felt able to distinguish between emotional side-effects of antidepressants and emotional symptoms of their depression or other illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Emotional side-effects of SSRIs are a robust phenomenon, prominent in some people's thoughts about their medication, having a demonstrable impact on their functioning and playing a role in their decision-making about antidepressant adherence.
Price
Jonathan
J
University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. jonathan.price@psych.ox.ac.uk
Cole
Victoria
V
Goodwin
Guy M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010551:Personality / Q000187:drug effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors