Antidepressive treatment during pregnancy can affect newborn brain activity

A new Finnish study shows that fetal exposure to commonly used SRI drugs may affect brain activity in newborns. The researchers suggest that the effects of drugs on fetal brain function should be assessed more carefully. Furthermore, indications for preventive medication should be critically evaluated, and non-pharmacological interventions should be the first-line treatment for depression and anxiety during pregnancy.

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What It's Like to Go on Antidepressants Before Puberty

When I was in elementary school, my two best friends were diagnosed with depression and given psychiatric drugs. They were both eight years old. At the time, I was weirdly jealous; I felt like they got more treats than me and the teachers gave them special attention. At one stage, I even made my mom take me to the doctor's, just to check that I wasn't depressed too.

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Most Antidepressants Don't Work for Kids, Study Finds

Most antidepressants don't work for children or teenagers with major depression and some may be unsafe, researchers reported Wednesday.

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Antidepressant Use While Pregnant Tied to Lower Risk of Preterm Birth

Pregnant mothers treated with antidepressants have a lower risk of giving birth prematurely or having a delivery by Caesarean section. However, use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with a higher risk of neonatal problems, according to a recent study.

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Stop telling pregnant women to go off their antidepressants

Every few months, pregnant women hear another scare story about antidepressant use: The drugs have been linked to birth defects,autism and lung problems in babies. These studies make it seem like giving up antidepressants during pregnancy is the only option, even though it might cost women their health and ability to function.

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Don't do drugs.

Moms Talk: Do Children Need Antidepressants?

In this week’s Moms Talk, we cover kids on depression and anxiety medications, and the difficult choices for parents.

Moms Talk: Do Children Need Antidepressants?

Study describes pros and cons of antidepressant use in pregnancy

Some women with depression who become pregnant face a troubling decision: whether to continue taking antidepressant medication to keep the depression at bay even though the medications may harm the fetus.

Study describes pros and cons of antidepressant use in pregnancy

Antidepressants during pregnancy could cause hypertension in lungs of child

SSRIs were recently reported of being unable to treat depressive symptoms satisfactorily. This study by scientists at Karolinska Institutet has put forward that SSRI anti- depressants consumed during pregnancy could lead to high blood pressure in the lungs of children.

Antidepressants during pregnancy could cause hypertension in lungs of child

More Than One in Ten Americans Take an Antidepressant

11% of Americans aged 12 and up now take an antidepressant medication, though less than one third of them have seen a mental-health professional in the past year.

More Than One in Ten Americans Take an Antidepressant

Antidepressants Often Prescribed Without A Diagnosis

Antidepressants are the third most common type of medication prescribed in the U.S., with $10 billion a year in sales. Nearly three out of four of those prescriptions are written by non-psychiatric providers (many of them primary care physicians). A study in the journal Health Affairs reports that a growing number of patients receiving antidepressants from a doctor who isn’t a psychiatrist aren’t given an accompanying psychiatric diagnosis.

Antidepressants Often Prescribed Without A Diagnosis

Antidepressant use During Pregnancy Linked to Increased Risk of Autism

Women taking antidepressant medications during pregnancy have another risk to worry about, autism. A study recently published in the Archives of General Psychology suggests that mothers taking antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil may be increasing the risk of having a child born with autism.

Antidepressant use During Pregnancy Linked to Increased Risk of Autism

Drugging our Kids on Antidepressants

The number of children aged six and under being prescribed anti-depressants has soared by almost 50 per cent since the federal government pledged to investigate the issue, new figures show.

Federal health department data reveals prescribing rates of the controversial drugs have risen from 852 in 2007-08 to 1264 in 2009-10.

Drugging our Kids on Antidepressants

Alarm as more kids on antidepressants

Alarm as more kids on antidepressants

“Alarm as more kids on anti-depressants” Herald Sun, 30 May 2011, read the full article on the Herald Sun website

Are antidepressants over-prescribed to young people?

In the Spring Issue of McClung’s Magazine, Julianna McDermott examines how young Canadian women are being prescribed powerful antidepressant drugs in record numbers. She discovers that family doctors, who most patients turn to, don’t always have the time or the training to properly diagnose depression. They spend only an average of ten minutes with patients who complain of depression, but 80 per cent of those patients walk away with prescriptions for Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). SSRIs are widely believed to be effective treatment for depression, but they have serious side-effects, including an increased risk of suicide in young people. Here is an except from McDermott’s feature article Chemicals for Candy.

Are antidepressants over-prescribed to young people?

Children under six on anti-depressants

THE number of children aged six and under being prescribed anti-depressants has soared by almost 50 per cent since the federal government pledged to investigate the issue, new figures show.

Children under six on anti-depressants

Drugging our kids on anti-depressants

THE number of children aged six and under being prescribed anti-depressants has soared by almost 50 per cent since the federal government pledged to investigate the issue, new figures show.

Drugging our kids on anti-depressants

When Preschoolers Get Depressed

Childhood should be a carefree time of happiness and discovery. So when doctors begin to talk about depression among preschoolers, it’s no surprise that the diagnosis is met with skepticism, an issue explored in this week’s New York Times Magazine.

When Preschoolers Get Depressed

Common anesthetic is anti-depressant 'wonder drug': study

Common anesthetic is anti-depressant 'wonder drug': study

Ketamine, a general anesthetic usually administered to children and pets, is also highly effective in low doses as an anti-depressant, according a study published Thursday.

Little evidence antidepressants helpful for autism

Little evidence antidepressants helpful for autism

While antidepressants are commonly given to people with autism, there is no evidence from clinical trials that the drugs are helpful for children with the disorder, and only limited evidence that they benefit adults, a new research review finds.

Psychologist Says Antidepressants Are Just Placebos

Psychologist Says Antidepressants Are Just Placebos

I will dutifully report on yet another professional’s opinion about the research literature on antidepressants. This time the “antidepressant is just a placebo effect” argument comes from a psychologist.