Antidepressants more harm than good
June 10, 2016
Antidepressants may be
largely ineffective and potentially
harmful for children and teenagers,
according to a new study published
in the Lancet.
The major review assessed
the scientific evidence for 14
antidepressants in nine to 18-year olds,
revealing only Prozac
(fluoxetine) was better at relieving
depression than a placebo.
The analysis of 34 clinical trials
involving 5,260 patients found
the drug Efexor (venlafaxine) was
connected with increased suicidal
thoughts and attempts when
compared to a placebo.
One of the key authors Andrea
Cipriani
of the University of Oxford
said psychological treatments
should be the first port of call
before prescribing drugs.
Major depressive disorders affect
about 3% of children aged 6 to 12
years, and about 6% of teenagers
aged 13 to 18 years.
“The balance of risks and
benefits of antidepressants for the
treatment of major depression
does not seem to offer a clear
advantage in children or teenagers,
with probably only the exception of
fluoxetine,” the study concluded.
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