Citation

Zuckerman ML, Vaughan BL, Whitney J, Dodds A, Yakhkind A, MacMillan C, Raches D, Pravdova I, Demaso DR, Beardslee WR, Gonzalez-Heydrich J. J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol. 2007; 17(2): 165-174.

Affiliation

Psychopharmacology Program, Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/cap.2007.0086

PMID

17489711

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the adverse effects of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) started in children under age 7 yr. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records for all children who had begun treatment with an SSRI under age 7 at an academic psychiatry department in Boston. RESULTS: Thirty-nine children (26 males, 13 females) met the inclusion criteria. Mean age at start of treatment was 5.9 +/- 0.8 yr, and median treatment duration was 5.0 months. The target diagnoses for SSRI treatment were anxiety disorders in 54%, depressive disorders in 23%, and both anxiety and depressive disorders in 20% of patients. There were no reports of suicidal ideation or attempt. No children were medically or psychiatrically hospitalized for adverse effects (AEs). Eleven patients (28%) reported an AE of at least moderate severity; 7 (18%) discontinued the SSRI due to the AE. Six patients discontinued due to behavioral activation and 1 due to gastrointestinal upset. The median time to onset of an AE was 23 days, and median resolution was 19 days from onset. CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of adverse effects, especially activation, in this sample argues for continued caution in using SSRIs in young children. Controlled trials are warranted.

Language: en