Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Drugs for depressed children banned (UK)
December 10 story in The Guardian - "Modern antidepressant drugs which have made billions for the pharmaceutical industry will be banned from use in children today because of evidence, suppressed for years, that they can cause young patients to become suicidal. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told doctors last night not to prescribe all but one of the antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The exception is Prozac, which is licensed for use in depressed children in the US. But the MHRA will warn that, at best, it helps only one child in 10. The decision has big implications for drug regulation."  
  

Rural mental health services call (UK)
BBC story - "An investigation into the management of psychiatric patients in remote areas has identified a 'very high level of concern' among health workers. The investigation by an NHS Scotland-funded body found that staff may have been exposed to 'highly stressful' situations and 'unacceptable risks.'"