Child anti-depressant use rises

The number of US children and teens diagnosed with depression more than doubled between 1995 and 2002, while the use of anti-depressant drugs rose and the use of psychotherapy or counselling declined.

The findings, say researchers, point to possible instances of inappropriate prescribing to children.

While guidelines call for children to be treated with either counselling or a combination of counselling and medication, the study found a trend of anti-depressants replacing talk therapy.

In addition, although only one anti-depressant, Prozac (fluoxetine), has been specifically approved for patients younger than 18, prescriptions for other anti-depressants rose after 1995 as well.

"These trends raise concerns regarding the widespread off-label use of anti-depressants lacking reliable evidence of safety and efficacy for use in children and adolescents," the study authors report in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Lead study author Dr Jun Ma of the Stanford University School of Medicine in California said the increase in anti-depressants probably reflects a combination of factors, including widespread drug advertising, perceptions that drugs are more effective than therapy and the fact that taking medication is more convenient than counselling.