- Title
- S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) for depression in adults
- Creator
- Wilson, Amanda
- Relation
- Issues in Mental Health Nursing Vol. 40, Issue 8, p. 725-726
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2017.1392161
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- Background: Depression is a major health issue in many countries that can negatively affect the lives of sufferers, their families and communities. There is also significant economic impact in terms of treatment and at a societal level. Depression is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality including high rates of suicide. With so many people affected by depression, it is important that nurses be aware of the most effective treatments available. The most common treatment for depression is antidepressant therapy, usually a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), prescribed alone or in conjunction with psychotherapy. S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) occurred naturally in the body where it is involved in cellular functions such as the synthesis and metabolism of neurotransmitters. SAMe has been marketed in some countries for the treatment of conditions including depression, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, liver disease and migraine headaches since the 1980s. However, it is usually in the form of an over-the-counter supplement rather than a prescribed pharmacotherapy and is not approved for treatment of depression in many countries including the UK and USA. The mechanism for the antidepressant effect of SAMe is unclear, however there is some evidence that it is effective in the treatment of depression. To recommend this as an alternative to current treatments, we need to able to provide comparative risks, benefits and costs. The current cost of SAMe is high at EUR 1.08 for one tablet compared to approximately 30 tablets of SSRIs for the same price. However, as antidepressants are not effective in all people with depression, there is a need to identify alternative treatments.
- Subject
- S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe); depression; adults; alternative treatments
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1424086
- Identifier
- uon:38025
- Identifier
- ISSN:0161-2840
- Language
- eng
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