Dr. Daryoush Jamal, M.D.

Not the most common symptom of Schizophrenia, but rather common for anxiety related disorders and some substance-use disorders.

It can definitely cause fearfulness and heightened paranoid thinking but not delusions; delusions are fixed false beliefs without the ability to rationalize about them vs. person that has anxious-paranoid thinking that is able to rationalize.

Antidepressants are prescribed for depression, anxiety and other conditions (e.g. PMDD, Pain Management, etc.). Therefore, it is crucial to make the correct diagnosis in order to properly treat the condition. Typical benefit of antidepressant treatment is to reestablish balance and equilibrium in the person suffering from anxiety &/or depression; therefore, the person will become themselves again in the case of depression. In the case of Anxiety the person should have feelings of relief and freedom from the crippling anxiety. Therefore, any unwanted symptoms (e.g. more anxious, more subdued, etc.) would likely mean that the treatment does not agree with the patient; specific to that particular medication, rather than the class of such medications.

Antidepressants should improve your wellness and ability to function; anything that is of possible adverse reaction to the medication should be discussed with your psychiatrist immediately, as some reactions may dissipate in a very short time of taking the medication (e.g. nausea). However, certain side-effects or adverse reactions (e.g. "hear voices") are extremely rare and would likely result in discontinuation of that particular medication.

Depending on type of anxiety, generally speaking, the class of antidepressants are one of the safest and most effective options available at present. There are also non-addictive medications for control of panic attacks.