Knowledge Gaps in SSRI Prescribing and Depression Management Among Medical Students and Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Antidepressant prescriptions have risen considerably over the past 30 years, predominantly driven by general practitioners treating adult depression, with SSRIs accounting for most cases. Despite this trend, primary care physicians often receive inconsistent training in depression management. This cross-sectional multicenter study evaluated knowledge regarding selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) among senior medical students, as well as among residents and fellow physicians in internal and general medicine in Argentina (n = 195). Specifically, this study aimed to assess the level of SSRI knowledge among final-year medical students and determine its depth among residents and attending physicians practicing internal and general medicine. The findings reveal a significant gap in knowledge regarding the safe prescription of SSRIs among these future physicians and clinicians in training. While participants demonstrated adequate understanding of the onset of action, contraindications, and treatment duration, critical deficits were identified, particularly concerning depression management, pharmacokinetic interactions, adverse effects, and the risk of manic switch. Given that foundational knowledge is acquired primarily during undergraduate pharmacology and psychiatry courses, these results support the urgent need for curricular changes. It is essential to integrate the practical clinical management of antidepressants and pharmacological approaches to depression into both medical school curricula and primary care residency training programs to ensure patient safety and optimize mental health care at the primary level.</p>