Preliminary Report of the Task Force on SSRIs and Suicidal Behavior in Youth

This is the Executive Summary of a Task Force report by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology which evaluated the safety & efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants for depressed youth under 18 years in response to concerns that they may increase the risk of suicidal thinking &/or suicide attempts. Based on evidence from clinical trials, epidemiology, & autopsy studies, the Task Force found that the benefits of SSRIs for treating depression in youth outweigh the risks of suicidal behaviors. (35 refs)