Friday, April 09, 2004

Benefits of antidepressants for teens 'exaggerated'
Calgary Herald (Canada) story - " The benefits of antidepressants prescribed to thousands of Canadian toddlers, children and teens have been exaggerated and the risks downplayed, according to a disturbing new report that's raising concerns about the drugs' potential for harm. The researchers conclude there is no evidence to justify prescribing these drugs to children. The Australian team reviewed six published studies of Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft -- drugs known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- as well as Effexor." See also the full study, Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents, published in today's edition of the British Medical Journal and also available in Adobe Acrobat format.