Prozac 'no better than placebo' for treating children with depression, experts
2 days ago
- #antidepressants
- #clinical-guidelines
- #mental-health
- Clinical guidelines should no longer recommend Prozac for children due to lack of clinical benefit in treating depression.
- One in seven 10-19 year olds globally have a mental health condition, with high rates of anxiety and depression in UK teenagers.
- UK guidelines currently allow antidepressants like Prozac for under-18s with moderate to severe depression alongside therapy.
- A new review found Prozac clinically no better than placebo in treating childhood depression, based on 12 trials from 1997-2024.
- The study identified a 'novelty bias' in early trials, with later studies failing to confirm initial positive effects.
- Potential risks of Prozac, including weight gain, sleep disturbance, and increased suicidal ideation, outweigh any benefits.
- US, Canadian, and UK guidelines continue to recommend Prozac despite evidence showing it's equivalent to placebo.
- Experts argue guidelines should not recommend placebo-equivalent treatments and should focus on understanding root causes of depression.
- Long-term effects of antidepressants in children are poorly understood, with some risks persisting after stopping medication.
- Nice maintains that a range of treatment options is essential, with psychological therapies as first-line treatment for young people.