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Today's Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008

Antidepressants, Study Says More Beneficial Than Risky

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Researchers believe the benefits of using antidepressants for children and adolescents experiencing major depression and anxiety disorders outweigh the risks of increased suicidal thoughts. “Although we cannot ignore the possibility that antidepressants may exacerbate suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, it would be worse to let these children go untreated. This Study Indicates that more children are ultimately helped by the antidepressant treatment than harmed,” said Thomas Insel, MD, director of NIMH. The team of researchers set to prove whether or not the “black box” warning the FDA put on antidepressants should scare off parents from potentially increasing their child's quality of life through medications. Studying 27 clinical trials of children younger than 19, between 1988 and 2006, Dr. David Brent of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic found increased response rate to antidepressants compared to placebos, while treating major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorders. The most effective response rate was using antidepressants for general anxiety disorders, 69 percent, opposed to 39 percent with children taking placebos. A 52 response rate for those with OCD compared to 32 percent when using the placebos. Those with major depression responded at a rate of 61 percent, placebos 50 percent. Overall of the cases a slight but statistically significant increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions was found, but no suicides occurred during the study, said researchers. “The evidence suggests that treating young people with antidepressants is worth the small risk associated with them,” said Brent. “New research should focus on developing the most efficient and effective methods for monitoring these young patients, to put both doctors and parents at ease, and to match patients with the best treatments,” he said.

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