Escitalopram related edema in a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Advanced Practice Providers recognize and treat the most common side effects patients bring to our attention with the use of antidepressants, including insomnia, weight gain, emotional flattening, and sexual side effects. (https://www.psychcongress.com/article/top-5-side-effects-psychotropics-and-how-manage-them). We are, however, less intuitive and competent at picking up the high risk and rare, problem prone side effects our patients may experience related to the medications we prescribe, particularly in the more medically complex patients. In addition, the medically complex patient may mask a psychiatric concern as the psychiatric provider finds themselves caught up in the ambiguity of numerous somatic symptoms a patient presents with versus the psychiatric concerns that bear our attention. Autoimmune disorders often blur this line all too well affecting both psychiatric and physical well-being.

Duke Scholars

Author Ann Roselle School of Nursing