Antidepressant use among children is rising
Children all over the world are being prescribed more antidepressants |
Use of antidepressants and other psychotropic medicines in children is rising throughout the world, research shows. The increase appears to be greatest in the UK.
Ian Wong, director of the Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research, School
of Pharmacy, University of London, and colleagues analysed prescribing
data for the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, US, Argentina, Brazil
and Mexico for the years 2000 to 2002. They included antidepressants,
stimulants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and other anxiolytics.
The study found that the number of prescriptions had risen significantly
in seven countries (all except Canada and Germany). The UK had the highest
increase of 68 per cent compared with the lowest figure of 13 per cent
in Germany. “The increase probably represents the improved recognition
of paediatric psychopathology,” the researchers comment. They add: “There
is also a concern that drugs are being used to replace non-drug treatments.” However,
there is insufficient research to confirm or refute this suggestion (Archives
of Disease in Childhood 2004;
89:1131).
A second study (ibid, p1098) examined use of antidepressants in children
and adolescents in the UK between 1992 and 2001 using data from the UK
General Practice Research Database. It found a 1.7-fold increase in antidepressant
prescribing over the 10-year period.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) gained in popularity
compared with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): use of TCAs decreased
by 30 per cent compared with a 10-fold increase in use of SSRIs. But
the authors, Macey Murray, research fellow at the Centre for Paediatric
Pharmacy Research, and colleagues point out that TCAs are still being
prescribed for adolescent depression despite evidence that they are suboptimal
in this age group. |
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