In my previous post I shared an article describing Dr Ladislav Haskovec’s recognition of akathisia in 1901. Akathisia is the truly horrid condition that causes unremitting restlessness, fear, terror and an inability to sit still. It is a noted side effect of all psychiatric drugs including antidepressants, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.
Akathisia is a condition that is directly related to suicide.
A search of the British Journal of Psychiatry revealed that the “most recent” article to consider akathisia in relation to antidepressants was a full decade ago. There has been nothing since. This is surprising given that research into side effects of antidepressants has been described as a “top priority” for the British scientific and medical community.
This post is for Shelly Johnson who died last week as the result of unbearable akathisia.