Study More and more children are receiving ineffective and sometimes toxic antidepressants

Drugs have no effect and are toxic
There has been a massive increase in prescribing antidepressants over the last decade. Researchers have now found that about 40 percent of these prescriptions in the UK do not have a positive effect on children. In addition, many of the prescribed medications even have toxic side effects.

Are prescriptions of antidepressants in children ineffective? Researchers at Swansea University Medical School have now discovered that more than 40 percent of prescribed antidepressants are ineffective and sometimes cause additional toxic side effects. The experts published the results of their study in the journal "Psychological Medicine".

Nowadays, more and more children are prescribed antidepressants. However, a new study has revealed that many of the prescribed drugs in children are ineffective. Some of these medicines even have unhealthy and toxic side effects. (Image: megaflopp / fotolia.com)

Physicians examine almost 360,000 subjects
The new study looked at nearly 360,000 patients aged six to 18 years. The researchers found that there was a 28% increase in prescribing antidepressants. Other evaluations have already shown that the consumption of antidepressants in children has risen sharply. Strangely enough, as the number of prescriptions per child increased, the number of diagnoses of children with depression in the UK dropped remarkably, say the authors. This is an indication that doctors want to avoid classifying young children and adolescents as mentally ill. But also in general, antidepressants are often given without depression.

Antidepressants are prescribed to girls much more often
Girls receive antidepressants three times more often than boys, the researchers explain. Children from economically deprived areas of the UK were also much more likely to be prescribed antidepressants. However, the increase in prescriptions of antidepressants in older adolescents (six to ten years old) had been relatively stable. However, the most important question was whether all these prescriptions really made sense and were necessary, explains the study leader Dr. med. Ann John of Swansea University Medical School.

Possible reasons for the increase in prescriptions of antidepressants
The increase in prescriptions may reflect a true increase in depression and symptoms, the medical profession speculates. In addition, it could also have been triggered by a better understanding of medical conditions and treatments. But perhaps it's also due to poor access to mental therapies and lack of specialist care, the authors add.

Not all negative feelings need to be treated with antidepressants
There are many discussions about prescribing medicines for depression and mental health problems. Some of the feelings that occur are only part of the normal human experience and are simply part of growing up. More research is needed to determine the real reasons for the increase in the prescriptions for antidepressants. John from Swansea University Medical School.

Citalopram does not give children clear benefits and can cause toxicity
The results of the new study made it clear that many British physicians are still prescribing the drug citalopram for depression in young people, although official guidelines have advised against it for a long time. Because citalopram is toxic at wrong dosage. There are already warnings about these effects since 2011, the experts explain. Other studies have also shown that antidepressants do not bring clear benefits to children. About one-third of citalopram prescriptions are given to 18-year-old adolescents. The remaining prescriptions go to children and adolescents, regardless of the policy for prescribing the drug, explain the scientists. Recent research has shown that Fluoxetine (Prozac) is the only drug that causes minimal side effects in children, explains Dr. med. John. (As)