[Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters]


Song in my head:
Yes, ‘n how many guns must we ship overseas

Before we stop the killing game?
Yes, ‘n how many hearts must be broken apart
Before our heads are all buried in shame?
How many fears can a Congress exploit
Just to keep their jobs and their fame?
The answer, my friend, is not Joe Lieberman
The answer is not Joe Lieberman
MJS

Doctor Bills Depress Me

An interesting study, as reported by Newsday, was conducted on depressed patients recently and the results are disturbing. Most people who start a new anti depressant are not monitored adequately for signs of suicide for a variety of reasons:

Experts suggest the cost of therapy, a lack of follow-up by busy family doctors, and a shortage of psychiatrists in some parts of the country might help explain the problem.

Ideally the FDA recommends close monitoring.

In early 2004, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that new antidepressant users see a doctor once a week for the first month and three more times in the following two months.

Part of the problem is the cost of health care. If I was monitored by a counselor or psychiatrist using the FDA guidelines my cost in copayments would be $105 dollars, along with doctor copayments and the cost of medicine. All of these costs are overwhelming and makes comprehensive mental health care inaccessible to low income Americans.

In addition, Dr. Darrel Regier, the American Psychiatric Association's director of research, said that carrying out the FDA treatment recommendations would push up costs up more than 50 percent.

Docotors are too busy to serve as psychiatrist and primary care physician so many problems are overlooked. With the risk of suicidal behavior increasing the first few weeks of taking a new anti-depressant this leaves society vulnerable to preventable tragedies like suicide.