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Utroværdig metaanalyse om abstinenser fra antidepressiv medicin. Hormonspiral øger risikoen for depression. Mindre skærmtid forbedrer børns mentale helbred



(See the English translation of this newsletter below the Danish newsletter)

Utroværdig metaanalyse om abstinenser fra antidepressiv medicin

En ny metaanalyse, der blev publiceret i det medicinske tidsskrift Lancet, hævder at vise, at abstinenser ved ophør af antidepressiv medicin kun forekommer hos en sjettedel af brugerne. En metaanalyse er en sammenfatning af resultater fra adskillige studier, og skulle derfor normalt give et mere retvisende resultat end de enkelte studier hver for sig. Men der er adskillige problemer med den nye metaanalyse:

– Flere af studierne havde ikke til formål at undersøge abstinenser ved ophør af antidepressiv medicin.
– Flere af studierne var lavet af producenter af antidepressiv medicin og kan derfor være manipulerede, hvilket ofte er set ved studier, hvor der er økonomiske interesser involveret.
– Flere af studierne undersøgte kun om der opstod abstinenser efter kort tids brug af antidepressiv medicin. Længere tids brug af antidepressiv medicin øger risikoen for abstinenser kraftigt.

En metaanalyse fra 2022 viste, at omkring 60% af brugere af antidepressiv medicin oplevede abstinenser ved ophør, hvis de havde taget medicinen i 2 år eller mere. Omkring halvdelen oplevede moderat alvorlige til alvorlige abstinenser. Resultaterne ses på denne graf.

Ref.:
– Hvor mange får abstinenser, når de kvitter antidepressiva? Ny analyse deler forskere
– Estimating Risk of Antidepressant Withdrawal from a Review of Published Data

Brug af hormonspiral øger risikoen for depression

Ny forskning fra Rigshospitalet viser, at kvinder, der bruger hormonspiral som prævention, har øget risiko for at få depression. I studiet indgik 149.200 danske kvinder, der var førstegangsbrugere af hormonspiral. Resultaterne var:

– Lavdosis hormonspiral: 1,2% fik behandlingskrævende depression
– Mellemdosis hormonspiral: 1,5% fik behandlingskrævende depression
– Højdosis hormonspiral: 1,8% fik behandlingskrævende depression

Studiet undersøgte kun forekomsten af registrerede, behandlingskrævende depressioner. Ubehandlede depressioner blev ikke registreret i dette studie, så antallet af depressioner hos brugere af hormonspiral kan derfor være væsentligt højere.

Dobbelt så mange kvinder som mænd rammes af depression i den reproduktive alder. Kvinders brug af hormonel prævention kan være en væsentlig årsag til den store forskel.

Ref.: Rigshospitalet

Nu bevist: Mindre skærmtid forbedrer børns mentale helbred

Et forsøg udført af forskere fra Syddansk Universitet har vist, at børns brug af skærme (mobiltelefon, tablet mm.) har stor indflydelse på deres mentale helbred. I forsøget indgik 89 familier, der blev inddelt i 2 grupper. Den ene gruppe bestod af 45 familier, der blev pålagt en reduceret skærmtid på maksimalt 3 timer om ugen. Den anden gruppe med 44 familier blev ikke pålagt nedsat skærmtid og fungerede som kontrolgruppe. Forsøget forløb over 2 uger.

Der blev observeret signifikant færre mentale problemer i gruppen med reduceret skærmtid. De mentale problemer, der blev observeret og målt i studiet var bl.a. emotionelle symptomer, hyperaktivitet, problemer med at indordne sig, problemer med forhold til andre, problemer med opførsel og uopmærksomhed. Alle disse uønskede symptomer var reduceret i gruppen med mindre skærmtid. I gruppen med reduceret skærmtid blev der også observeret bedre social opførsel.

Det kan derfor anbefales at reducere skærmtiden for børn. Brug af skærme i undervisningen bør også reduceres til et minimum.

Ref.: Screen Media Use and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents

En medvirkende årsag til, at skærme forårsager mentale problemer kan være, at de udsender mikrobølgestråling. Kablet internetforbindelse i stedet for wifi kan være en løsning.

Ref.: Rådet for Helbredssikker Telekommunikation “Derfor eksploderer ADHD”

En anden årsag kan være, at skærme udsender blåt lys, der forstyrrer nattesøvnen, hvis man ser på skærme om aftenen i de sidste timer inden sengetid. Det kan håndteres ved at reducere det blå lys fra skærmen. Man kan f.eks. installere det gratis program “Iris Mini” for at reducere det blå lys, eller man kan bruge særlige briller om aftenen, der blokerer blåt lys.

Ref.: Harvard Health Publishing: “Blue light has a dark side”

Newletter in English

Unreliable meta-analysis about withdrawal symptoms from antidepressant medication

A new meta–analysis, that was published in the medical magazine The Lancet, claims to show that withdrawal symptoms from discontinueing antidepressant medication only occurs in one out of six users. A meta-analysis is based on the results of several studies and should therefore normally give a more correct result than a single study. But there are numerous problems with the new meta-analysis:

– Several of the studies did not have the purpose of investigating withdrawal symptoms from discontinuation from antidepressant medication.
– Several of the studies were made by the manufacturers of antidepressant medication and can therefore be manipulated. This is often seen in studies where financial interests are involved.
– Some of the studies only investigated for withdrawal symptoms after a short period of use. However, use of antidepressant medication for a longer period considerably increases the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

Another meta-analysis from 2022 showed that about 60% of users of antidepressant medication experienced withdrawal symptoms if they had used the medication for two years or more. About half of the users experienced moderately severe or severe withdrawal symptoms. The results can be seen on this graf.

Ref.:
– Hvor mange får abstinenser, når de kvitter antidepressiva? Ny analyse deler forskere
– Estimating Risk of Antidepressant Withdrawal from a Review of Published Data

Use of hormonal coil increases risk of depression

New research from Rigshospitalet in Denmark found that women, who use a hormonal coil as contraceptive, have an increased risk of depression. The study encompassed 149,200 Danish women, who were using a hormonal coil for the first time. The results were:

– Low dose hormonal coil: 1,2% got a depression requiring treatment
– Medium dose hormonal coil: 1,5% got a depression requiring treatment
– High dose hormonal coil: 1,8% got a depression requiring treatment

The study only looked into the occurrence of treatment requiring depressions. Untreated depressions were not registered in this study, so the number of depressions among users of hormonal coil can therefore be considerably higher.

Depression occurs twice as often in women than in men in the reproductive ages. Womens use of hormonal contraceptives may be a primary reason for this big difference.

Ref.: Rigshospitalet

Now proven: Less screentime improves the mental health of children

A trial conducted by researchers from The University of Southern Denmark has shown, that childrens use of screens (cellphone, tablet etc:) has a major influence on their mental health. 89 families participated in the trial. They were divided into two groups. One group of 45 families were required to reduce screentime to a maximum of 3 hours weekly. The second group of 44 families served as a control group and were not required to reduce screentime. The trial went on for two weeks.

Significantly less mental problems were observed in the group with reduced screentime. The mental problems observed and measured in the study were internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity or inattention, emotional symptoms and peer relationsship problems. All of these symptoms were reduced significantly in the group with less screentime. In the group with reduced screentime there was a significant increase in prosocial behaviour.

It is therefore recommended to reduce screentime for children. Use of screens in education should also be reduced to a minimum.

Ref.:
– Screen Media Use and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents

One of the reasons that screens cause mental problems may be, that they emit microwave radiation. Internet connection with cable instead of wifi can be a solution.

Ref.: Rådet for Helbredssikker Telekommunikation “Derfor eksploderer ADHD”

Another reason may be, that screens emit blue light, that disturb sleep at night, if screens are used in the evening close to bed time. This can be handled by reducing the blue light from the screen. The free software “Iris Mini” reduces the blue light. Another solution is to use special glasses that block out blue light in the evening.

Ref.: Harvard Health Publishing: “Blue light has a dark side”