Efficacy and Safety of Antidepressants for Children and Adolescents

Antidepressants introduced since 1990, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors & venlafaxine, have been used increasingly as first line treatment for depression in children. The safety of prescribing antidepressants to children & adolescents has been the subject of increasing concern in the community & the medical profession, leading to recommendations against their use from government & industry. In this paper, the authors review the published literature on the efficacy & safety of newer antidepressants in children. (24 refs)