'Amotivational Syndrome' In Youths Who've Used SSRIs

[Guest guest]

" Amotivational Syndrome Linked With SSRI Use in Youth for the First

Time

from Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update

E. Jane Garland, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry and

A. Baerg, M.D., clinical assistant professor of psychiatry

at the University of British Columbia's Children's Hospital in

Vancouver, Canada, report on five patients with dose-dependent,

reversible frontal lobe (amotivational) syndrome characterized by

delayed onset after treatment with fluoxetine and paroxetine, two

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly prescribed

to treat adolescent depression.

A frontal lobe syndrome characterized by apathy, indifference, loss

of initiative and/or disinhibition has developed in some adults

during SSRI therapy but has not been previously reported in the

pediatric population (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1990). In each case the

patient had a significant change in behavior, which included becoming

indifferent toward work performance, exhibiting impulsive and

disinhibited behavior, or developing poor concentration and forgetful

behavior (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1991).

Although a frontal lobe syndrome may be rare, it is important to

consider, as its symptoms could be easily misinterpreted. Apathy and

indifference could be mistakenly attributed to depressive symptoms or

sedation; impaired judgment and disinhibition could be attributed to

hypomania-induced behavior.

According to Garland, delayed onset is a consistent feature in both

adult and child cases, although there is presently little

understanding behind the late onset of symptoms "

" One hypothesis is that it only becomes evident as the primary

condition remits and function returns. However, the common pattern is

a period of 3-4 weeks or a month of good functioning before it is

evident. Another hypothesis is that there is some neurochemical

adaptation occurring, perhaps involving the dopaminergic system, or

even the complex network of serotonin receptor subtypes, " says

Garland.

Garland concludes, " These case reports remind us that intermediate

term side effects, such as the more common sexual side effects and

less common amotivational syndrome, require awareness on the part of

the treating physician, and specific inquiry as patients may not

bring them up spontaneously. "

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/frontal-lobe-syndrome.htm

[Guest guest]

" Amotivational Syndrome Linked With SSRI Use in Youth for the First

Time

from Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update

E. Jane Garland, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry and

A. Baerg, M.D., clinical assistant professor of psychiatry

at the University of British Columbia's Children's Hospital in

Vancouver, Canada, report on five patients with dose-dependent,

reversible frontal lobe (amotivational) syndrome characterized by

delayed onset after treatment with fluoxetine and paroxetine, two

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly prescribed

to treat adolescent depression.

A frontal lobe syndrome characterized by apathy, indifference, loss

of initiative and/or disinhibition has developed in some adults

during SSRI therapy but has not been previously reported in the

pediatric population (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1990). In each case the

patient had a significant change in behavior, which included becoming

indifferent toward work performance, exhibiting impulsive and

disinhibited behavior, or developing poor concentration and forgetful

behavior (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1991).

Although a frontal lobe syndrome may be rare, it is important to

consider, as its symptoms could be easily misinterpreted. Apathy and

indifference could be mistakenly attributed to depressive symptoms or

sedation; impaired judgment and disinhibition could be attributed to

hypomania-induced behavior.

According to Garland, delayed onset is a consistent feature in both

adult and child cases, although there is presently little

understanding behind the late onset of symptoms "

" One hypothesis is that it only becomes evident as the primary

condition remits and function returns. However, the common pattern is

a period of 3-4 weeks or a month of good functioning before it is

evident. Another hypothesis is that there is some neurochemical

adaptation occurring, perhaps involving the dopaminergic system, or

even the complex network of serotonin receptor subtypes, " says

Garland.

Garland concludes, " These case reports remind us that intermediate

term side effects, such as the more common sexual side effects and

less common amotivational syndrome, require awareness on the part of

the treating physician, and specific inquiry as patients may not

bring them up spontaneously. "

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/frontal-lobe-syndrome.htm

[Guest guest]

" Amotivational Syndrome Linked With SSRI Use in Youth for the First

Time

from Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update

E. Jane Garland, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry and

A. Baerg, M.D., clinical assistant professor of psychiatry

at the University of British Columbia's Children's Hospital in

Vancouver, Canada, report on five patients with dose-dependent,

reversible frontal lobe (amotivational) syndrome characterized by

delayed onset after treatment with fluoxetine and paroxetine, two

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly prescribed

to treat adolescent depression.

A frontal lobe syndrome characterized by apathy, indifference, loss

of initiative and/or disinhibition has developed in some adults

during SSRI therapy but has not been previously reported in the

pediatric population (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1990). In each case the

patient had a significant change in behavior, which included becoming

indifferent toward work performance, exhibiting impulsive and

disinhibited behavior, or developing poor concentration and forgetful

behavior (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1991).

Although a frontal lobe syndrome may be rare, it is important to

consider, as its symptoms could be easily misinterpreted. Apathy and

indifference could be mistakenly attributed to depressive symptoms or

sedation; impaired judgment and disinhibition could be attributed to

hypomania-induced behavior.

According to Garland, delayed onset is a consistent feature in both

adult and child cases, although there is presently little

understanding behind the late onset of symptoms "

" One hypothesis is that it only becomes evident as the primary

condition remits and function returns. However, the common pattern is

a period of 3-4 weeks or a month of good functioning before it is

evident. Another hypothesis is that there is some neurochemical

adaptation occurring, perhaps involving the dopaminergic system, or

even the complex network of serotonin receptor subtypes, " says

Garland.

Garland concludes, " These case reports remind us that intermediate

term side effects, such as the more common sexual side effects and

less common amotivational syndrome, require awareness on the part of

the treating physician, and specific inquiry as patients may not

bring them up spontaneously. "

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/frontal-lobe-syndrome.htm

[Guest guest]

" Amotivational Syndrome Linked With SSRI Use in Youth for the First

Time

from Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update

E. Jane Garland, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry and

A. Baerg, M.D., clinical assistant professor of psychiatry

at the University of British Columbia's Children's Hospital in

Vancouver, Canada, report on five patients with dose-dependent,

reversible frontal lobe (amotivational) syndrome characterized by

delayed onset after treatment with fluoxetine and paroxetine, two

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly prescribed

to treat adolescent depression.

A frontal lobe syndrome characterized by apathy, indifference, loss

of initiative and/or disinhibition has developed in some adults

during SSRI therapy but has not been previously reported in the

pediatric population (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1990). In each case the

patient had a significant change in behavior, which included becoming

indifferent toward work performance, exhibiting impulsive and

disinhibited behavior, or developing poor concentration and forgetful

behavior (Hoehn-Saric et al. 1991).

Although a frontal lobe syndrome may be rare, it is important to

consider, as its symptoms could be easily misinterpreted. Apathy and

indifference could be mistakenly attributed to depressive symptoms or

sedation; impaired judgment and disinhibition could be attributed to

hypomania-induced behavior.

According to Garland, delayed onset is a consistent feature in both

adult and child cases, although there is presently little

understanding behind the late onset of symptoms "

" One hypothesis is that it only becomes evident as the primary

condition remits and function returns. However, the common pattern is

a period of 3-4 weeks or a month of good functioning before it is

evident. Another hypothesis is that there is some neurochemical

adaptation occurring, perhaps involving the dopaminergic system, or

even the complex network of serotonin receptor subtypes, " says

Garland.

Garland concludes, " These case reports remind us that intermediate

term side effects, such as the more common sexual side effects and

less common amotivational syndrome, require awareness on the part of

the treating physician, and specific inquiry as patients may not

bring them up spontaneously. "

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/frontal-lobe-syndrome.htm