Posted by SLS on February 22, 2012, at 6:36:01
In reply to Scott's response » Lou Pilder, posted by SLS on February 22, 2012, at 4:58:22
Here is a publication posted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It deals with the usage of antidepressants in children and adolescents.
I feel that it is best to avoid the use of antidepressants in children whenever possible. I don't like the idea of exposing a rapidly-developing brain to antidepressants. These drugs are not as efficacious as they are in adults,and they may produce suicidal thinking at a higher rate when compared to that seen in adult depression. However, if other modalities of therapy have been exhausted, or the depression is severe enough, antidepressants will prevent more suicides than they will precipitate.
I think doctors ought to monitor patients very closely early in antidepressant treatment so as to screen for suicidal thinking due to:
1. A worsening of depression.
2. An improvement of depression.#2 would seem counterintuitive at first glance. This phenomenon is well-known and has been labeled roll back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant
Of course, I left in the requests for citations and the comment "weasel words".
"Patients with depression are at greatest risk for suicide immediately after treatment has begun, as antidepressants can reduce the symptoms of depression such as psychomotor retardation or lack of motivation before mood starts to improve.[citation needed] Although this appears paradoxical, studies [which?] indicate that suicidal ideation is a relatively common [weasel words] at the start of antidepressant therapy, and it may be especially common in younger patients such as pre-adolescents and teenagers. Manufacturers and physicians often recommend that other family members and loved ones monitor the young patient's behavior for any signs of suicidal ideation or behaviors, especially in the first eight weeks of therapy."
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1011122
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120221/msgs/1011169.html