Panamerican Journal of Trauma, Critical Care & Emergency Surgery

Register      Login

VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2022 ) > List of Articles

Perspectives

Traumatic Injuries and Early Pharmacological Intervention for Psychological Challenges: Is this the Best Option?

Tulika M Agarwal, Vishwajit Verma, Arya R Panchabhai

Keywords : Accidents traffic, Antidepressants, Depressed, Depression, Emotionally lowered, Psychological interventions, Trauma, Traumatic injuries, Trauma surgery care

Citation Information : Agarwal TM, Verma V, Panchabhai AR. Traumatic Injuries and Early Pharmacological Intervention for Psychological Challenges: Is this the Best Option?. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2022; 11 (1):68-69.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10030-1377

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 24-05-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Patients with traumatic injuries experience various psychological symptoms similar to depression, which do not meet the criteria for such diagnosis. Antidepressant medications should not be prescribed except after the correct diagnosis of depression, made by a qualified mental health professional. Psychological interventions should be used as first line of care for most injured patients. Psychological interventions, unlike antidepressants, have proven long-term efficacy and have been adequately established. At the same time, antidepressants may have known or lesser-known side effects with long-term implications on one's mental health and should only be used as the second line of intervention for patients with traumatic injuries. Spanish Translation Los pacientes con lesiones traumáticas experimentan diversos síntomas psicológicos similares a la depresión, que no cumplen los criterios para dicho diagnóstico. Los medicamentos antidepresivos no deben recetarse excepto después de un diagnóstico correcto de depresión, a menudo realizado por un profesional de la salud mental calificado. Las intervenciones psicológicas deben utilizarse como primera línea de atención para la mayoría de los pacientes lesionados. Las intervenciones psicológicas, a diferencia de los antidepresivos, han demostrado eficacia a largo plazo y se han establecido adecuadamente. Al mismo tiempo, los antidepresivos pueden tener efectos secundarios conocidos o menos conocidos con implicaciones a largo plazo en la salud mental y solo deben usarse como segunda línea de


PDF Share
  1. Agarwal TM, Muneer M, Asim M, et al. Psychological trauma in different mechanisms of traumatic injury: a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Plos One 2020;15(11):e0242849. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242849
  2. Jones C, Skirrow P, Griffiths RD, et al. The characteristics of patients given antidepressants while recovering from critical illness. Bja Br J Anaesth 2000;84(5):666. DOI: 10.1093/bja/84.5.666
  3. Haines D, Hild J, He J, et al. A retrospective, pilot study of de novo antidepressant medication initiation in intensive care unit patients and post-ICU depression. Critical Care Res Pract 2017;2017:5804860. DOI:10.1155/2017/5804860
  4. Kelly JM, Rubenfeld GD, Masson N, et al. Using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in critical care. Crit Care Med 2017;45(6):e607–e616. DOI:10.1097/ccm.0000000000002308
  5. DeRubeis RJ, Zajecka J, Shelton RC, et al. Prevention of recurrence after recovery from a major depressive episode with antidepressant medication alone or in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy. Jama Psychiat 2020;77(3):237–245. DOI:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3900
  6. Cuijpers P, Smit F, Straten AV. Psychological treatments of subthreshold depression: a meta-analytic review. Acta Psychiat Scand 2007;115(6):434–441. DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.00998.x
  7. Peris A, Bonizzoli M, Iozzelli D, et al. Early intra-intensive care unit psychological intervention promotes recovery from post traumatic stress disorders, anxiety and depression symptoms in critically ill patients. Crit Care 2011;15(1):R41-R41. DOI:10.1186/cc10003
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.