Antidepressants don’t work for teens and children according to new study in Lancet

Most available antidepressants are ineffective for children and teenagers with major depression, and some may be unsafe, according to a new overview of medical literature.

Only one drug, fluoxetine, was found to work better at relieving the symptoms of depression than a look-alike placebo with no active ingredients, said the study, published in The Lancet.

Another drug, venlafaxine, was linked with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts compared with placebo and five other antidepressants.

More broadly, there is a paucity of well-designed clinical trials on the impact of these drugs on youngsters, say the authors.

“The balance of risks and benefits of antidepressants for the treatment of major depression does not seem to offer a clear advantage in children and teenagers,” says co-author Peng Xie from The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China.

The international team of researchers recommend that youths taking such medications be monitored closely regardless of the antidepressant chosen, particularly at the beginning of treatment.