One of the most frequently overlooked comorbid conditions with depression in children, and indeed adults, is ADD. [More about the ADD diagnosis in the next post.] Most important for this missive is the fact that serotonin meds can significantly dysregulate [diminish] dopamine [all stimulants effect dopamine].
Serotonin is likely the most important and available treatment for depression [as noted in Time article], and it works, and is safe. More about SSRI side effects later, but for now the suicide rate is falling and SSRIs can significantly help with depression, and depressed kids and adults should take SSRIs until every other comorbid stone is turned over. [Always look for every explanation, not just one.] SSRIs are frequently life savers.
But if the patient has an often unrecognized ADD the SSRI will downregulate, reduce, the already low dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. The SSRI causes a seesaw effect. The most frequent outcome of this dopamine deficiency problem: abundance of thought, cognitive anxiety, increases impulsivity, the mind races [secondary to increased ADD, not bipolar], the patient can’t think, can’t sleep, becomes cognitively less effective, more worried, more sleep deprived and wants to turn their brain off any way they can.
Read more:
http://www.corepsych.com/2006/12/kid...#ixzz2DOrpKbMV
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