Article: Antidepressants Intensify Bipolar Symptoms in Children

October 5, 2003

Antidepressants for the treatment of bipolar symptoms cause adverse effects in

more than three quarters of children within the first four months of treatment,

according to a study presented at the Fifth International Conference on Bipolar

Disorders (Pittsburgh, June 2003) by Demetri Papolos, MD, from the Albert

Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

The study analyzed past data from 195 juveniles aged 2.4 to 18.8 years (mean

age, 10.9 years) from two locations. Of the 195 patients, 134 (68.7%) were

exposed to at least one trial of an antidepressant. The adverse effects were

quantified in terms of rates, severity, and time of onset of " bipolar " episodes

with respect to start of antidepressants. The results were similar at the two

practice sites.

Within the first four months of antidepressant treatment, 75.4% experienced some

adverse effects. Increased cycling starting within a day of initiation of

antidepressants was experienced by 79%, 70.9% experienced increased aggression,

and 23.1% experienced psychotic symptoms.

Increased aggressiveness, violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors usually

accompanied antidepressant exposure in the sample groups.

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