Depression is associated with suicide, not homicide. If you check the second link in comment# 1, you'll find that mostly all of these school shootings of recent years are associated with this class of antidepresssants, the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, SSRIs, of which Prozac is the grandfather.
All drugs can have adverse effects based on genetic predisposition that determines how individuals metabolize any particular drug. They need to figure out which individuals should not take SSRIs, or else be hospitalized for the first few months of therapy or a change in dosage.
FDA Public Health Advisory October 15, 2004
"Pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be closely observed for clinical worsening, as well as agitation, irritability, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases."
Now this class of drugs has a "Black Box" warning. The kid had his dose of Prozac increased a few weeks ago.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
I pinged because of the intoxicated appearance of the killer in the picture, and the fact that, even though it's Saturday, it's mentioned on the front page of the NY Times.
They fortunately or unfortunately have never seen the frenzy and obsession this drug can precipitate in an otherwise normal mildly depressed person. I have more than once. I also saw the reaction of the psychiatrist to the mania/frenzy it produced in one person. The person instantly became Bipolar II. Never mind that before an SSRI there were never any of these symptoms. The solution? Addition of Tegretol followed by other "mood stabilizers". And I liked being told that "most in these cases end up on lithium" and "she is going to need medicine to live a normal life". Lithium is a drug with nasty side effects. Thank God that person stopped the Prozac. (With another doctor's help) Today, eight years later, that person lives a normal drug free life without a single "manic" episode.
This drug class has its uses. It is a powerful effective drug (though by no means as broadly effective as they would have you believe). It just should be recognized for what it is and prescribed accordingly. It is a very powerful drug with a risk (how significant we don't know due to the research techniques) of mania, obsession and agitation and should be prescribed with that full knowledge.
I agree totally and I have extensive knowledge on antidepressants and benzodiazepines.......most uneducated people don't realize at all that, like you posted, this psychotropic drug can have devastating side effects that do include homicidal thoughts and those who think you can just control it have no clue about how these drugs can effect the mind......I was harmed greatly by Klonopin for some situational panic I had.......after going off it, I got the protracted benzo wd which debilitated me, and took me three years to recover........there is alot more than just anecdotal evidence out there.......but if one doesn't follow it, well then they have no clue