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Parents
Think Too Many
Teens Get Antidepressants
While many parents are concerned
about depression among teenagers, a number of them are apprehensive
about antidepressants, says a new poll from Columbia University.
The poll of 512 parents with children
under 18 found that:
- Sixty-eight percent of the parents
believe that antidepressants are being over-prescribed to young
people.
- Thirty-one percent believe that
antidepressants harm teens while an equal number don't believe
that antidepressants cause harm. Another 38 percent aren't sure.
- Suicide, weight gain or loss,
and brain development are among the potential side effects cited
by parents who believe that antidepressants are harmful to teens.
- Most of the parents believe that
most teens suffering from depression aren't receiving treatment.
- More than half the parents believe
that many teens being treated for depression do not have the
disorder.
"Parents are worried that many
teens with depression aren't getting treated and many teens without
depression are," Laurie Flynn, director of the university's Carmel
Hill Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment, said in a prepared
statement.
"What's more troubling is parents
lack basic information on depression and medication and they don't
know where to turn. This poll is a wake-up call to physicians,
educators, researchers and even the media to step up efforts to
sort out the confusion," Flynn said.
One in five youths will have one
or more episodes of major depression by the time they reach adulthood,
the researchers added.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more
about teen
depression.
Reference
Source 101
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