Download

Download Full Text (699 KB)

Document Type

Poster

Description

This literature review was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of antidepressants in the adolescent population based on the currently available research. Specifically, are antidepressants safe and efficacious in treating depression in adolescents and is their use associated with increased risk of suicide. Data was collected by searching medical databases including: Clinical Key, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, PubMed, DynaMed Plus, and Cochrane Review. The review of the literature included systematic reviews, metaanalysis, cross-sectional, longitudinal, randomized control trials, and survey methods. All literature works selected were published within the past ten years. Upon analysis, the literature showed a significant increase in the rate of depression and suicide amongst adolescents. However, other studies demonstrated mixed results regarding the risk of suicide in adolescents who were prescribed antidepressants. Based on the literature reviewed, there is not a clear correlation between increased suicide and antidepressant use in adolescents. In fact, some studies show a significant decrease in suicide amongst subjects who were taking an antidepressant. The research indicates that antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are both efficacious and relatively safe when used by themselves. When used alone, antidepressants are slightly more efficacious than CBT alone. The literature also indicates that the combinations of CBT and antidepressants are the most efficacious in treating depression in the adolescent population.

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Date of Work

2020

Publication Date

2020

Keywords

Antidepressant, adolescent, suicide, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

The Safety and Efficacy of Antidepressant Use In The Adolescent Population

Share

COinS