MentalHealthDaily

Antidepressant Use in Pakistan (2026): SSRI Prescribing Patterns and Patient-Reported Side Effects

by GLOOM

Photoreal illustration of a pharmacist counseling patient on antidepressant medication, conveying global pharmacovigilance.

Most antidepressant pharmacovigilance data come from high-income countries, leaving prescribing patterns and adverse-effect profiles in low- and middle-income countries underdocumented. A 2026 cross-sectional study by Riaz and colleagues describes antidepressant use in Pakistan, with patient-reported adverse effects mapped against prescription patterns.1 Research Highlights Antidepressant use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has grown substantially but …

SSRIs + DOACs: No Excess Bleeding vs. Other Antidepressants

by GLOOM

Stylized illustration of an SSRI capsule alongside a DOAC tablet against a vascular network background, representing the bleeding-interaction question in primary care.

SSRIs raise bleeding risk on their own. DOACs (direct oral anticoagulants — apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban) raise it more. The intuitive worry is that combining them stacks the two effects. A new BJGP Open analysis from Chau and colleagues argues the stacking is smaller than most popular framings claim, and that the real safety question …

Exercise for Depression and Anxiety: 2025 Evidence Synthesis

by GLOOM

Stylized illustration of a runner emerging from neural network patterns, representing exercise's effects on the brain in depression and anxiety treatment.

Exercise reliably reduces depression and anxiety symptoms — but the cardio-vs-resistance gap and antidepressant parity claims are overstated.

Ketamine Increases Amygdala Volume in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) (2024 MRI Study)

by GLOOM

Depression is a complex mental health condition that significantly affects an individual’s emotional and physical well-being. Recent advances in neuroimaging have provided deeper insights into how major depressive disorder (MDD) alters brain structures, particularly the hippocampus and amygdala, and how treatments like ketamine can potentially reverse these changes. A new study using 3T and 7T …

Nortriptyline-Induced “Room Tilt Illusion”: A Rare Adverse Event of Antidepressants (2024 Case Report)

by GLOOM

Room Tilt Illusion (RTI) presents a perplexing challenge to both patients and physicians, transforming the familiar into the surreal as surroundings appear rotated or flipped. This rare condition, often linked to neurological or vestibular disorders, has recently been observed as an adverse effect of the antidepressant nortriptyline, used in treatment-resistant depression. A case report highlights …

Pharmaceutical & Recreational Drug Use During & After COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2023 in Latvia) (2024 Study)

by GLOOM

The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably transformed various facets of human life, including our health behaviors and substance consumption patterns. Through the lens of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), a study conducted in Riga, Latvia, from December 2020 to July 2023, sheds light on how the pandemic and subsequent restrictions have impacted the use of pharmaceuticals and recreational …

Xylopic Acid for Depression: May Increase Efficacy of Select Antidepressants via Synergistic Effect (2024 Study)

by GLOOM

In a new study, researchers discovered the synergistic antidepressant-like effects of xylopic acid (XA), a natural compound extracted from the dried fruits of Xylopia aethiopica, when combined with conventional antidepressants in mice. The study meticulously explored the interaction between XA and antidepressants like fluoxetine, sertraline, imipramine, and ketamine, revealing a promising potential for enhancing antidepressant …