Tuesday, July 31, 2012

We're not the only ones who get depressed

This should come as no surprise, especially to those of us who have animals in our lives. According to a just published news article, monkeys are being treated for depression in Argentina.

The article states that , black howler monkeys at an Argentine ecological park have been suffering depression following the death of two of the oldest females in the group and had to be given medication because they refused to eat.

The article continues,

Two alpha females died 1 1/2 years ago from natural causes at the Rio Cuarto Urban Ecological Park some 650 kilometers (400 miles) west of Buenos Aires, and from that moment "their male companions began suffering depression and four let themselves die of sadness," park director Miriam Rodriguez told Clarin newspaper.
The black howler monkeys in this 12-hectare (30-acre) park "live in a group and are very close to one another," Rodriguez said. "When the females died, we noticed the others behaving oddly, but we thought it might have been something they ate."
Concerned about their lethargy and refusal to eat, park officials consulted specialists at the nearby Cordoba Zoo, who told them "the animals could be going through a phase of acute depression," Rodriguez said.
After several analyses, psychiatrist Sergio Castillo confirmed the diagnosis of depression and two months ago prescribed a treatment based on sertraline, "a mineral derived from the serotonin used in humans to reverse different symptoms originating from compulsive disorders or depression," veterinarian Ezequiel Carrizo told the newspaper.
There was initially some resistance to the treatment since it seemed "ridiculous to give them anti-depression medication even if it was only a minimum dose," Rodriguez told Radio 2, adding that "it has begun to raise the monkeys' spirits." 

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/07/30/monkeys-treated-for-depression-in-argentina/#ixzz22DOf6goX

Unfortunately, the article does not state if the monkeys had any side effects and for how long they were given this serotonin based drug. I hope the monkeys are doing better and are now able live their lives without chemicals.

6 comments:

D Bunker said...

"psychiatrist Sergio Castillo confirmed the diagnosis of depression and two months ago prescribed a treatment based on sertraline"

Now they poisoning Monkeys with Zoloft.

I wonder if anyone will cover this stupidity when and if these monkeys attack and/or kill each other from the Zoloft?

Anonymous said...

Not all on Zoloft become muderous.

I have been on it off and on, to treat severe anxiety, for 10 years- I haven't killed anyone, including myself

susan said...

Hello Anonymous-

No you are right. Not all on Zoloft become murderous. Here's the problem right now, on today's date. There are rumors circulating that the shooter in Aurora was on Zoloft or something like that, and that might be the reason he shot and killed/ maimed people.

I don't know. What I've said on this blog about meds- what works for someone may not work for another. I had no problems on Zoloft or Paxil. Prozac, on the other hand, gave me side effects from hell.

It just saddens me that animals are given psychiatric drugs. That's just my opinion. I am sure not everyone will agree with me, which is fine.

I'm glad you stopped by my blog today. Thank you.

truthman said...

bloody hell ... what next??

Anonymous said...

OMG... I just went through HELL on Zoloft.

michael platania said...

I have very mixed feelings about medicating animals for depression. What happens in the wild when animals get depressed? Do animals in the wild (which has not been encroached upon and destroyed by humans) get depressed? Is it a natural phenomenon? Many more questions than answers.

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