An unexpected side effect of antidepressants revealed

Frequent yawning may not just be a harmless body reaction, but a possible side effect of depression treatment. Scientists came to this conclusion based on a new study focused on the therapy of major depressive disorder using antidepressants.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the Journal of Psychiatric Research, specialists conducted a prospective observation of 150 patients who were prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the first time. After a month of treatment, 110 participants completed the study, and most of them showed a significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms and insomnia.

At the same time, researchers noted an increase in the frequency and intensity of yawning. If excessive yawning was observed in 5.4% of patients before the start of therapy, after a month of treatment this indicator increased to 15.4%. The analysis showed a direct connection between the severity of yawning, depression severity, and sleep disturbances - both before the start of therapy and after it.

In patients who responded well to treatment, yawning weakened over time. Conversely, in those for whom the therapy was less effective, this symptom intensified. According to the authors, yawning may not only be a side effect of SSRIs but also a potential marker of the clinical response to treatment.

Although it is too early to talk about the practical application of these observations, the study emphasizes the importance of accounting for even seemingly insignificant symptoms when monitoring and evaluating the condition of patients with depression.