The many antidepressant uses

ON TRIAL: The cheapest antidepressant you can find? Semen. EVIDENCE: According to a NewScientist.com article, a study has shown that women who are directly exposed to semen are less depressed. While doctors still advocate condom use, the study shows that women whose partners did not wear condoms were generally happier than women whose partners wore condoms. The article says that the researchers took into account other factors that might affect the study such as oral contraceptives, intimacy frequency, the strength of the relationships and personality. "In fact, the results aren't a complete surprise because semen does contain several mood-altering hormones, including testosterone, oestrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, prolactin and several different prostaglandins." The article quotes one doctor who suggests that semen could possibly affect the mood of gay males who have unprotected sex. The article seems to imply that the semen-mood-altering study is directly tied to vaginal (possibly anal) sex but hints that oral sex may provide similar benefits in the same way that an oral contraceptive could alter hormones. VERDICT: If you've got a male partner, in a monogamous, committed relationship and suffering from mild depression, go ahead and test this study out. (Everybody wins!) Otherwise, stick to the anti-depressants and use condoms. ON TRIAL: Prozac + anorexia nervosa = recovery EVIDENCE: Very little. According to a New York Times article, research shows that antidepressants can help people suffering from bulimia nervosa recover, but the benefits do not seems to transfer to anorexia. About three million Americans (mainly women) will suffer from anorexia and studies show that two-thirds of them are treated with antidepressants. "Dr. Walter Kaye, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, said the new findings should not rule out the use of antidepressant treatment altogether." THE VERDICT: Antidepressants have a long way to go in targeting those who suffer from eating disorder psychoses. Further research needs to be done to show any significant value in antidepressant use. ON TRIAL: Pregnant women using antidepressants. EVIDENCE: According to medindia.com, Seroxat, an antidepressant linked to heart abnormalities, seems safe to use in pregnant women. Researchers found no increased risk to women or their babies. However, three abnormalities out of 119 women were reported with use of the drug: clubfeet, a large port wine mark and neck muscle spasms. In a group that did not use the drug, 25 out of 557 babies were affected. THE VERDICT: Pregnant women should cautiously approach using antidepressants and discuss the ramifications of using the drugs with their doctor. The studies seems to imply that babies can have an abnormality regardless of the mother using an antidepressant but caution still should be used. INFORMATION: According to a KLTV article, Mayo Clinic study has found that REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, which typically affects people in their 50s, is now being discovered in patients as young as 30. The link? Anti-depressants. The violent sleep disorder causes people to act out their dreams, which can result in serious injury to themselves or the person sleeping beside them. The recommendation? Don't stop taking your medication but see a sleep specialist right away.