Antidepressant Medication for Children and Teens

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Many parents have questions about giving antidepressants to their child; especially in light of an FDA warning that antidepressants may cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents. Here are some answers.

When the FDA first issued the antidepressant suicide warnings, many parents became alarmed. Afterall, the FDA required antidepressants to carry the strongest possible warning about their link to suicidal behavior in children, adolescents and young adults (ages 18-24). And while antidepressant medications can be an effective way to treat depression and other mental disorders in children and adolescents, they also carry the potential of harmful side effects and complications.

The American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry prepared the fact sheet below to help parents make informed decisions about the use of antidepressant medications in treating depression in children, adolescents and young adults.

Information for Patients and Families

Prepared by the American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Contents

• Introduction
• What is a black box warning?
• What prompted the FDA warning?
• Did the FDA prohibit the use of antidepressant medications by children and adolescents?
• Can antidepressant medications help children and adolescents with depression?
• Do antidepressants increase the risk of suicide?
• What other factors other than depression increase the risk of suicide?
• Does talking about suicide signal increased likelihood that a child will hurt him/herself?
• How can I be certain that my child has depression?
• What should treatment consist of?
• How can I help monitor my child?
• What treatments for childhood and adolescent depression other than medication are available?
• Will my child's depression pass without treatment?
• Can my child keep taking an antidepressant medication now being prescribed?
• How can I advocate effectively for my child who has depression?
• Disclaimer

Introduction

As the parent or guardian of a child or teen-ager with clinical depression, or as a patient yourself, you may be aware of the recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to attach a cautionary label, or "black box warning," to all antidepressant medications used to treat depression and other disorders in children and adolescents.

The American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have prepared this Fact Sheet to help patients and families make informed decisions about obtaining the most appropriate care for a child with depression.

Depression is an illness that can affect every part of a young person's life and that of his or her family. It can disrupt relationships among family members and friends, hurt school performance, and lead to general health problems through its effects on eating, sleeping, and exercise. If left untreated, or is not correctly treated, depression can be very dangerous because of the risk of suicide associated with the illness.

Fortunately, when depression is recognized and correctly diagnosed, it can be treated successfully. A comprehensive program of care should be tailored to the needs of each child and his or her family. Treatment may include psychotherapy or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. It may also include family therapy or work with the child's school as well as interacting with peer support and self-help groups.

What is a black box warning?

A "black box warning" is a form of label placed on some medications. The FDA uses it to alert prescribing doctors and patients that special care should be exercised in certain uses of a medication; for example, for patients with particular medical conditions, or patients within a certain age range. The FDA has decided to require such a warning label for all antidepressant medications used to treat depression and other disorders such as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents.