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Title

Monitoring the use of antidepressants: the role of mental health nurses.

Authors

Painter, Joanna M

Abstract

Why you should read this article: • To refresh your understanding of the use of antidepressants in contemporary mental health practice • To read about updated guidelines on prescribing and discontinuation of antidepressants • To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers). Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medicine. For some years there has been an upward trajectory in the numbers of prescriptions provided across primary and secondary care. Recent evidence has emphasised the issues associated with long-term antidepressant prescriptions, such as the side effect burden and withdrawal effects. Supporting safe and effective medicines management is an integral part of the mental health nursing role, but the complexity of these medicines and their effects can be overlooked. This article aims to update nurses on the main principles of practice in relation to antidepressants.

Subjects

NURSES; MEDICAL protocols; OCCUPATIONAL roles; CERTIFICATION; HOLISTIC nursing; DECISION making; PSYCHIATRIC nurses; ANTIDEPRESSANTS; PROFESSIONAL employee training; NURSING practice

Publication

Mental Health Practice, 2024, Vol 27, Issue 6, p34

ISSN

1465-8720

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.7748/mhp.2024.e1710