If someone is suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder, antidepressants are often part of the first- line treatment in order to manage symptoms. According to the results of a clinical trial recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, antidepressants may also be able to help people who have had traumatic brain injuries as well, as depression is fairly common in this population.
The trial took place over four years at a university hospital. The 94 subjects in the study would receive either 100 milligrams per day of either sertraline or a placebo for 24 weeks, or until they showed symptoms of a mood disorder. Those who took a placebo ended up being four times more likely to develop depression than those taking sertraline.
If you have had a traumatic brain injury, this is definitely something that is worthy of consideration. In order to help manage the effects of the injury, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking antidepressants. You should keep in mind that it is not only sertraline but also other antidepressants that could potentially be helpful, such as fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and others. Not every medication will work for every person, so you may need to work with a psychiatrist in order to find the best one for you. In addition, you should be aware that the most effective treatment for depression and other mood disorders is a combination of therapy and medication, rather than medication alone.
Of course, in the wake of this type of injury, you need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well as possible. You can also get a second opinion from another doctor when it comes to recovery and preventing mood disorders from developing. You should also make sure you focus on developing the best coping skills possible. If the reason you have the brain injury is that you have been in an accident that was caused by someone else, such as a car accident, you should take the appropriate legal actions to get the justice you deserve.
