Substantial Rise of Antidepressant Use in Youth

[Guest guest]

Antidepressant Use Among Youth

May 10, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows antidepressant use has

substantially increased among youth in recent years.

Data has shown the use of antidepressant medications in the United States

rose from 40 million prescriptions in 1988 to 120 million in 1998. It also

shows the increase in antidepressant drugs is greater proportionally among

youth than adults. In a new study, researchers from the University of

land studied the prevalence of antidepressants in youth and for what

they are being prescribed.

Researchers examined data from three U.S. sites. The prescription and

clinical records of youth were followed for seven years from 1988 to 1994.

Researchers found the prevalence of antidepressants prescribed to youth

increased in all three groups studied. Despite the expanded use of these

drugs for depression, more than half of antidepressant use among youth was

prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The

research also shows antidepressants are predominant in boys aged 10 to 14

years and girls aged 15 to 19 years.

Researchers say the increase of antidepressants was generated not by

psychiatric treatment but by primary care physicians. They say more studies

are needed to look at the use of antidepressants among youth in regard to

duration of treatment, combination medications and the reasons for

treatment.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2002;109:721-726

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[Guest guest]

Antidepressant Use Among Youth

May 10, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows antidepressant use has

substantially increased among youth in recent years.

Data has shown the use of antidepressant medications in the United States

rose from 40 million prescriptions in 1988 to 120 million in 1998. It also

shows the increase in antidepressant drugs is greater proportionally among

youth than adults. In a new study, researchers from the University of

land studied the prevalence of antidepressants in youth and for what

they are being prescribed.

Researchers examined data from three U.S. sites. The prescription and

clinical records of youth were followed for seven years from 1988 to 1994.

Researchers found the prevalence of antidepressants prescribed to youth

increased in all three groups studied. Despite the expanded use of these

drugs for depression, more than half of antidepressant use among youth was

prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The

research also shows antidepressants are predominant in boys aged 10 to 14

years and girls aged 15 to 19 years.

Researchers say the increase of antidepressants was generated not by

psychiatric treatment but by primary care physicians. They say more studies

are needed to look at the use of antidepressants among youth in regard to

duration of treatment, combination medications and the reasons for

treatment.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2002;109:721-726

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Antidepressant Use Among Youth

May 10, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows antidepressant use has

substantially increased among youth in recent years.

Data has shown the use of antidepressant medications in the United States

rose from 40 million prescriptions in 1988 to 120 million in 1998. It also

shows the increase in antidepressant drugs is greater proportionally among

youth than adults. In a new study, researchers from the University of

land studied the prevalence of antidepressants in youth and for what

they are being prescribed.

Researchers examined data from three U.S. sites. The prescription and

clinical records of youth were followed for seven years from 1988 to 1994.

Researchers found the prevalence of antidepressants prescribed to youth

increased in all three groups studied. Despite the expanded use of these

drugs for depression, more than half of antidepressant use among youth was

prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The

research also shows antidepressants are predominant in boys aged 10 to 14

years and girls aged 15 to 19 years.

Researchers say the increase of antidepressants was generated not by

psychiatric treatment but by primary care physicians. They say more studies

are needed to look at the use of antidepressants among youth in regard to

duration of treatment, combination medications and the reasons for

treatment.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2002;109:721-726

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Antidepressant Use Among Youth

May 10, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows antidepressant use has

substantially increased among youth in recent years.

Data has shown the use of antidepressant medications in the United States

rose from 40 million prescriptions in 1988 to 120 million in 1998. It also

shows the increase in antidepressant drugs is greater proportionally among

youth than adults. In a new study, researchers from the University of

land studied the prevalence of antidepressants in youth and for what

they are being prescribed.

Researchers examined data from three U.S. sites. The prescription and

clinical records of youth were followed for seven years from 1988 to 1994.

Researchers found the prevalence of antidepressants prescribed to youth

increased in all three groups studied. Despite the expanded use of these

drugs for depression, more than half of antidepressant use among youth was

prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The

research also shows antidepressants are predominant in boys aged 10 to 14

years and girls aged 15 to 19 years.

Researchers say the increase of antidepressants was generated not by

psychiatric treatment but by primary care physicians. They say more studies

are needed to look at the use of antidepressants among youth in regard to

duration of treatment, combination medications and the reasons for

treatment.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2002;109:721-726

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

This is not good at all. And the drugs are being prescribed by

primary care physicians. Any pretense that they're being prescribed

after a proper psychological evaluation isn't even being used anymore.

When I was a kid, I dabbled with recreational drugs. It may sound

like an oxymoron but I was a responsible drug user. I knew to take

care of myself. Somehow the message has to made to kids and adults

that simply because the drugs are prescribed by doctors doesn't

absolve them of responsibility. Taking an antidepressant everyday is

comparable to taking speed everyday. That's very bad news. At least

with speed your body gives you quick feedback on what the drug is

doing to you. With prozac AND with multiple drugs being prescribed,

its tough for anyone to connect the drugs with the effects. This is

especially true since we don't allow ourselves to " crash. " If people

allowed themselves to quit the drug periodically early on, they'd

better understand how strong these drugs are. Them doctors/drug

comapanies/hmos are a tricky lot. I heard early on that if I quit

the drugs, the drug might never work for me again. They're nothing

but drug pushers. I can't wait till get them anti-drug bumper

stickers. I'll be slapping them on my car next to my " No War "

sticker.

[Guest guest]

This is not good at all. And the drugs are being prescribed by

primary care physicians. Any pretense that they're being prescribed

after a proper psychological evaluation isn't even being used anymore.

When I was a kid, I dabbled with recreational drugs. It may sound

like an oxymoron but I was a responsible drug user. I knew to take

care of myself. Somehow the message has to made to kids and adults

that simply because the drugs are prescribed by doctors doesn't

absolve them of responsibility. Taking an antidepressant everyday is

comparable to taking speed everyday. That's very bad news. At least

with speed your body gives you quick feedback on what the drug is

doing to you. With prozac AND with multiple drugs being prescribed,

its tough for anyone to connect the drugs with the effects. This is

especially true since we don't allow ourselves to " crash. " If people

allowed themselves to quit the drug periodically early on, they'd

better understand how strong these drugs are. Them doctors/drug

comapanies/hmos are a tricky lot. I heard early on that if I quit

the drugs, the drug might never work for me again. They're nothing

but drug pushers. I can't wait till get them anti-drug bumper

stickers. I'll be slapping them on my car next to my " No War "

sticker.

[Guest guest]

This is not good at all. And the drugs are being prescribed by

primary care physicians. Any pretense that they're being prescribed

after a proper psychological evaluation isn't even being used anymore.

When I was a kid, I dabbled with recreational drugs. It may sound

like an oxymoron but I was a responsible drug user. I knew to take

care of myself. Somehow the message has to made to kids and adults

that simply because the drugs are prescribed by doctors doesn't

absolve them of responsibility. Taking an antidepressant everyday is

comparable to taking speed everyday. That's very bad news. At least

with speed your body gives you quick feedback on what the drug is

doing to you. With prozac AND with multiple drugs being prescribed,

its tough for anyone to connect the drugs with the effects. This is

especially true since we don't allow ourselves to " crash. " If people

allowed themselves to quit the drug periodically early on, they'd

better understand how strong these drugs are. Them doctors/drug

comapanies/hmos are a tricky lot. I heard early on that if I quit

the drugs, the drug might never work for me again. They're nothing

but drug pushers. I can't wait till get them anti-drug bumper

stickers. I'll be slapping them on my car next to my " No War "

sticker.

[Guest guest]

This is not good at all. And the drugs are being prescribed by

primary care physicians. Any pretense that they're being prescribed

after a proper psychological evaluation isn't even being used anymore.

When I was a kid, I dabbled with recreational drugs. It may sound

like an oxymoron but I was a responsible drug user. I knew to take

care of myself. Somehow the message has to made to kids and adults

that simply because the drugs are prescribed by doctors doesn't

absolve them of responsibility. Taking an antidepressant everyday is

comparable to taking speed everyday. That's very bad news. At least

with speed your body gives you quick feedback on what the drug is

doing to you. With prozac AND with multiple drugs being prescribed,

its tough for anyone to connect the drugs with the effects. This is

especially true since we don't allow ourselves to " crash. " If people

allowed themselves to quit the drug periodically early on, they'd

better understand how strong these drugs are. Them doctors/drug

comapanies/hmos are a tricky lot. I heard early on that if I quit

the drugs, the drug might never work for me again. They're nothing

but drug pushers. I can't wait till get them anti-drug bumper

stickers. I'll be slapping them on my car next to my " No War "

sticker.