I have been watching the show since it aired and as a Critical Care and ER Nurse for 24 years I was very upset at the opening segment of today’s show. With the caption “antidepressants impair” posted behind the doctors, the results of 1 study were read that concluded that “those who reported a high level of depressive symptoms performed significantly worse on several tasks” (including driving) Dr. Masterson procedes to say, “Should they take like a sobriety test….you know sort of a test like….i think they should.” Dr. Sears then states, “They were relating it to like being on alcohol” Dr Ordon then pipes in with…“Technically you could be driving impaired”.
I am mortified that you would make such fear inspiring comments without following up with other study results or the opinion of a specialist in the field. Thank goodness Dr. Stork was the only one with sense enough to say he thought the study was flawed and that the inability to concentrate was more likely to be from the depression itself than the SSRI used to treat it.
As medical professionals you know you must be very cautious of making statements that are unfounded and vague based on 1 limited study. Your comments may induce fear in people who have finally sought the help they need and may now be fearful of continuing their treatment course. I see many patients in the emergency department who have stopped taking medications due to statements made in the press or because they no longer felt they needed it. You, being doctors, have likely just irresponsibly created fear in an enormous patient population. With a stigma surrounding antidepressants despite their wide spread use now for many physical conditions other than depression, this is just one more deterrent for people to seek and accept the treatment they need. Please do a follow up show in which you present more concrete study results regarding the efficacy of SSRI’s for depression and other medical conditions which certainly should include but not be limited to possible side effects. Having a specialist in the field when discussing a topic would really add credibility. I wouldn’t ask a psyciatrist about plastic surgery or gynecology and while I fully respect Drs. Ordon, Sears and Masterson for the expertise in their specific fields, I found it irresponsible for them to comment so negatively and vaguely without data to back their statements. You just lost credibility and respect in my view. For the sake of your viewers, please make right this error in judgement.

I agree with you whole-heartedly,I have been on meds for depression for 12yrs and do not think a plastic surgeon should not comment.But what gets me is my doctor told me that its against the law to drive while I am taking Klonopin,and I need to take it to help me????

I so agree with you. Thank you for posting. I’ve taken an SSRI for migraine prevention for years. I think it’s sad that ONE study could cause ONE person to rethink a necessary medication. Depression is a brain chemistry issue.