February 20, 2008
by Chris George

A dramatic reduction in prescribing of anti-depressants for children has not led to more suicidal behaviour and self harm as some feared, new research indicates.

In June 2003 the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency advised doctors to stop prescribing Seroxat and, apart from Prozac, the other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants to under 18s. The drugs were linked to a higher risk of suicidal behaviour.

But some mental health professionals expressed concern that a reduction in SSRI prescribing would lead to increased untreated depression and suicide risk. Studies in American and Holland appeared to support these concerns.

A study in Friday's British Medical Journal reported that from June 2003 to 2006 anti-depressant prescriptions for children dropped by up to 50%, back to the 1999 level. There was a 65% reduction in SSRI prescriptions.

There was no evidence of change in hospital admission for self harm or suicide levels among children in England aged 12-19, said the researchers.

"These findings are important because they do not suggest that reduced access to SSRIs in young people has had an adverse impact on suicidal behaviour among adolescents in the UK, as has been suggested," stated the researchers' paper.

See also:
Psychiatric medication

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