Treatment
with antidepressants requires a period ranging from 2 to 4-6 weeks before an
antidepressant effect is observed. This period is also known as latency of the
antidepressant drug. According to some studies this latency is shorter for new
antidepressants. It is essential that the patient and family members are aware
of this latency time, as they may be induced to stop the treatment since they
consider it to be ineffective. Since 2005 in countries like the United States
and Britain, departments of health have forced manufacturers to display the
warning of the risk of committing suicide, which in some individuals
(especially younger ones) seems to increase during the first weeks of therapy.
The Vital Needs Theory - page 30