Suicidality in Pediatric Patients Treated With Antidepressant Drugs

The relationship between antidepressant drugs & suicidality in pediatric patients participating in randomized, placebo-controlled trials was examined. 20 trials were included in the final risk ratio analysis of suicidality. A meta-analysis was conducted to obtain overall suicidality risk estimates for each drug individually, for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in depression trials as a group, & for all evaluable trials combined. A multicentre trial was the only one to show a statistically significant risk ratio. It is concluded that the use of antidepressant drugs in this population is associated with a modestly increased risk of suicidality. (19 refs.)