Dysthymia, chronic pain, and eating disorders are all treated by antidepressants. Today, the number of adults and teenagers who are being prescribed antidepressants has increased more than 400% between 2005-2008, according to a report released by National Center for Health Statistics.
According to a 2014 research paper from the Modern Medicine Network, 24 to 29.1 percent of the teenagers who participated in their study on the correlation between antidepressants and teen suicides, attempted suicide.
Pediatricians, psychiatrists, and any physician can prescribe antidepressants for teenagers.
The dispute itself is more about whether antidepressants and other drugs such as Adderall are being prescribed too quickly rather than if they’re safe
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Multiple clinical studies have shown limitations. As well as many of these antidepressants are prescribed by physicians with little or limited mental health disorders, according to the American Psychological Association.
Psychiatrists, such as Dr. Gabriela Cora suggest taking another route when dealing with depression instead of prescribing pills right away.
“Psychotherapy is very helpful for depression. There are other ways that can help with depression: good nutrition, exercise, time to relax (to ease some of the stress from school, and sleep. Basically I call these the four pillars of health,” said Dr. Cora. There have been some cases of “roll back”, in which antidepressants eventually led patients to follow with their suicidal impulses.
In the case of teenager Brennan McCartney who was prescribed Cipralex, an antidepressant, after visiting his doctor for a chest cold the results were fatal. Brennan was described as a fun-loving and good-natured person; his parents and friends didn’t think he was depressed. After taking the medication for four days as it was prescribed, Brennan drove to the store to purchase rope and never came