Child Antidepressant Research Misleading
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new systematic review of
published and unpublished studies show only Prozac was
not linked to negative outcomes for children with
depression. Researchers conclude using published studies
alone to guide the treatment of childhood depression
could be inappropriate and the pharmaceutical industry
may be responsible.
A class of drugs known as selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors has previously been considered to
offer the best treatment option for childhood
depression. In the new analysis, all SSRIs appeared to
have a favorable risk-benefit ratio when researchers
examined the published studies alone. When researchers
included unpublished studies in their analysis, the risk
of SSRI treatment exceeded the benefits. For example,
the effects of paroxetine, also known as Paxil, showed
it to be associated with an increased risk in suicidal
thoughts or attempted suicide.
Authors of the study say pharmaceutical companies
play a large role in manipulating childhood depression
treatment research and withholding critical
information.
Study co-author Tim Kendall, from the National
Collaborating Center for Mental Health in London, says,
“Drug sponsors who withhold trial data (or do not make
full trial reports available) undermine the guideline
[program], which can ultimately lead to recommendations
for treatments that are ineffective, cause harm, or
both. Others have suggested that the pharmaceutical
industry needs greater regulation, and in particular
that all trial data -- whether published or unpublished
-- should be fully accessible.”
In an accompanying editorial in The Lancet,
the authors write, “The study of research into SSRI use
in childhood depression is one of confusion,
manipulation and institutional failure. Although
published evidence was inconsistent at best, use of
SSRIs to treat childhood depression has been encouraged
by pharmaceutical companies and clinicians
worldwide.”
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers
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SOURCE: The Lancet, 2004;363:1341-1345,
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