Citation

Ringold S. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 2005; 293(5): 537-538.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.293.5.537

PMID

15687299

Abstract

The controversial black-box warning for antidepressants describing  the possible link between use of these drugs and suicide in adolescents has sparked an active debate regarding the appropriate treatment of depression in younger patients. The warning, required in the labeling of at least 32 commonly prescribed antidepressants, not only focuses attention on concerns about these medications  for pediatric patients but also highlights a widening gap between the needs of the approximately 2.7 million US children and adolescents with significant depression and the nation's relatively small number of trained child psychiatrists. However, a growing recognition of this unmet need is driving new efforts to address the problem. Primary care pediatricians,  family medicine practitioners, and psychiatrists are collaborating to formulate and promote guidelines and other measures.