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40 character limited title should have read: "Early study suggests FDA warnings on SSRI anti-depressants regarding the risk of suicidal thoughts among children may have lead to under diagnosis of depression and a possible increase in paediatric suicides." - the shorter title is more attention grabbing though.
The FDA only fairly recently required a warning be put on all SSRI anti-depressants stating that they could lead to an increase in suicidal thoughts among children. This came about after concerns raised in the UK about two specific drugs which where "hyped up" and despite not one single suicide during all clinical trials. It should be noted that no such warnings are required in the UK, where the reactions has been somewhat more measured.
Although it is too early to really tell what, if any, effect this warning has had on US society scientists are already studying it and some report is not good.
According to an early study from The University of Colorado since the FDA warning came in to effect there has been a marked increase in lost productivity due to untreated depression as well as an increase in the suicide rate per 100,000 (adults mid 40s - early 50s) from 13.94 in 2002 and to 16.88 in 2005.
Similarly suicide rates among 10 to 19 year olds have either increased steadily since 2004 or have not declined to pre-2003 levels, remaining significantly higher than history would have predicted.
Could this be another example of a knee jerk reaction to hyped up "threats" causing more trouble than it was intended to fix or is it that the "fix" will do nothing at all? Only time will tell.
My interpretion of the figures is that it is quite likely there has been a marked decrease in inappropriate diagnosis of depression particularly among children, a good thing, although there may also be some truly depressed people who are not getting the treatment they need as a result, not so good.
It should be noted we're talking "undiagnosed", which also means untreated as opposed to diagnosed but not prescribed SSRI's.
There is also a suggestion of a tread away from SSRI's being used as a treatment for children in favour of other treatments, which may or may not be a good thing; Personally I'd like to see more cognitive therapies used rather than just pills for both adults and children but that's just me.
The report itself concludes that some action is required to counter the unintended consequences of reduced depression treatment, to which I can agree.