There is a
serious debate in psychiatry. Does the use of antidepressant medications help
teens. Does it help them with the condition, or do they increase a teen risk of
committing suicide? Back in 2004, the Food and Drug Administration included
what is known as a black box warning on a group of antidepressants called the
SSRIs to alert healthcare providers to an increased risk of suicidality in
children and teens. New research revealed that information from 24 overall
trials and over 4500 pediatric patients taking one of nine antidepressant
medications found that only one trial, funded by the National Institute of
Mental Health, found significant increase in suicidality, and that was more
than fourfold. However, when all 24 studies were combined, there was no
increase. The conclusion? This is not a declaration a safety, but further
warning that these medications need to be used under careful supervision, or at
all.
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