74% children prescribed SSRI suffer adverse effects

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NIMH-Harvard study: 74% children prescribed SSRI suffer adverse effects

 

Fri, 22 Aug 2003

 

A report in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (abstract

below) Dr. Timothy Wilens, Dr. Joseph Biederman, et al, child psychiatrists at

Harvard's teaching hospital, Massachusetts General, found that 22% of children

and adolescents who had been prescribed any one of the selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants suffered drug-induced psychiatric

adverse effects within three months. Furthermore, the authors, who have long

advocated prescribing psychotropic drugs for children, reported: " Overall, 74%

if children and adolescents experienced [i.e., suffered] an adverse event to an

SSRI over the course of their treatment. "

 

The SSRI drugs prescribed for these children were: Prozac, Paxil (Seroxat),

Zoloft, Luvox and Celexa. Proof that the adverse effects were drug-induced is

borne out by the fact that after the drugs were withdrawn and the children were

re-exposed to an SSRI, 44% suffered another psychiatric adverse effect.

 

This report validates what critics--who are not receiving financial support from

drug companies--have been pointing out for some time: Antidepression drugs are

not the solution for troubled children. The documented evidence consistently

shows that the drugs are causing children mental distress that can only

aggravate their problems.

 

Of particular concern: According to the authors, the most frequent adverse

effects induced by SSRI drugs are sleep disturbance (35%) and agitation. That

combination is a prescription for violent outbursts--such as, self injury,

suicide attempts, and / or violent outbursts toward others.

 

It is scandalous that the National Institute of Mental Health has remained

absolutely silent about mounting evidence that these drugs pose hazards for

children's health and lives. NIMH officials disregard the evidence of suicidal

acts by children in clinical trials. The same evidence led the medical

authorities in Great Britain to ban the use of an SSRI in children under 18. See

documents at: http://www.ahrp.org/index.html

 

Despite evidence of harm, NIMH continues to promote the use of SSRIs and

sponsors clinical trials that expose little children and adolescents to the

hazards of these drugs.

See: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2002/ncdeu2062.cfm

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2002/ncdeu2061.cfm

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2002/ncdeu3016.cfm

 

For additional documentation about the harm being done to children who are

inappropriately and indiscriminately prescribed psychotropic drugs, visit the

AHRP website at: www.ahrp.org

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Title: A Systematic Chart Review of the Nature of Psychiatric Adverse Events in

Children and Adolescents Treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

 

Author(s): Timothy E. Wilens MD ; Joseph Biederman MD ; Anne Kwon MS ; Rhea

Chase BA ; Laura Greenberg BA ; Eric Mick ScD ; Thomas J. Spencer MD

 

Source: Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology

Volume: 13 Number: 2 Page: 143 -- 152

 

DOI: 10.1089/104454603322163862

Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

 

Abstract: Objective: Despite a rapidly growing literature on the efficacy of the

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in the treatment of juvenile

psychiatric disorders, relatively little is described about emotional,

behavioral, and cognitive adverse effects associated with their use. To this end

we completed a retrospective analysis of medical charts to determine the

incidence, nature, and clinical correlates of treatment emergent adverse effects

in the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional domains.

 

Methods: We systematically evaluated the medical charts of children treated with

SSRI for depressive or obsessive-compulsive disorders for a mean (±SD) of 26.9 ±

20.8 months to determine the incidence, nature, and clinical correlates of

treatment emergent psychiatric adverse events (PAE). Charts were reviewed for

diagnoses, type and dose of SSRI and adjunct medication, specific type of PAE,

and time to onset and offset of PAE.

 

Results: In total, 82 charts of children and adolescents (mean age 12.2 ± 3.2

years) were examined. PAE occurred in 22% of children and were most commonly

related to disturbances in mood. PAE were not associated with psychiatric

diagnosis(es), age, sex, concurrent medications, doses or specific serotonin

reuptake inhibitors. The onset of PAE was observed typically 3 months after SSRI

exposure (median = 91 days). Although PAE diminished with SSRI discontinuation,

those that emerged early in treatment diminished significantly more rapidly than

those that emerged later (median offset was 10 and 49 days, respectively).

Re-exposure to an SSRI resulted in another PAE in 44% (n = 18) of the group.

 

Conclusion: Based on the retrospective review of medical charts, youth receiving

SSRI appear to be at risk for treatment emergent PAE and recurrence with

re-exposure to an SSRI. Prospective longer term studies evaluating the course

and prognosis of youths manifesting PAE to SSRI are necessary.

 

by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2003

Reference Links: 17 (View Links)

 

 

 

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