Antidepressants linked to suicide and aggression in teens

ConclusionPerhaps the most troubling aspect of this paper is not the increased risk of suicidal thoughts in young people, as that has been known for many years. What is worrying is the researchers’ conclusion that they are unable to tell the true extent of harms from antidepressants, because of poor data collection and availability.RCTs are designed to test the effects of treatments with as little bias as possible. However, if the right data on adverse effects is not collected in the trials, or is not made public, we cannot balance the benefits and risks of treatment in a fair and transparent way. According to the data we do have, it is likely that for many people, the benefits of antidepressant treatment will outweigh the risks. The situation is different among under-18s, as doctors have known since 2004, when warnings against using certain antidepressants in children were issued.Guidelines on the treatment of depression in children say antidepressants should only be considered for children with moderate to severe depression if psychological (talking) therapy has not helped, and after a specialist review and discussion with the child and their family. In this instance, only fluoxetine is recommended. It is worth repeating that it can be dangerous to stop taking antidepressants suddenly. Some people get a withdrawal syndrome, which can make depression much worse. If you are worried about taking antidepressants, or feel they are not helping you, make an appointment with your...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Mental health Medication Source Type: news