There continues
to be a serious debate in psychiatry. Does the use of antidepressant
medications help teens, and 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 suicides in children and teens. New research revealed that information
from 24 overall trials in over 4,500 pediatric patients taking one of nine
antidepressant medications found that only one trial, funded by the National
Institute of Mental Health, found a significant increase in suicides and that
was more than fourfold. However, when all 24 studies were combined, there was
no increase. The conclusion? This is not a declaration of safety, but a further
warning that these medications need to be used under careful supervision, if at
all.
We always
appreciate your comments.
