Citation

Brent DA, Gibbons RD, Wilkinson P, Dubicka B. BJPsych Bull 2018; 42(1): 1-4.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/bjb.2017.2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this paper, we summarise and critique a network meta-analysis (NMA) of antidepressant efficacy and tolerability for paediatric depression and an accompanying editorial. Although we agree that many of the extant studies are flawed, this meta-analysis showed clear efficacy of fluoxetine in the NMA, and for sertraline and escitalopram in pairwise analyses. Consequently, these papers underestimate the benefits of antidepressants for paediatric depression, and provide support for current practice guideline, which recommends the use of an antidepressant if the patient does not respond to psychotherapy. In these circumstances, fluoxetine should be the first choice, with escitalopram and sertraline as alternatives. © The Authors 2018.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; systematic review; Review; psychotherapy; depression; suicide attempt; major depression; suicidal behavior; antidepressant agent; fluoxetine; imipramine; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; venlafaxine; practice guideline; psychopharmacotherapy; placebo; drug efficacy; meta analysis; drug tolerability; drug withdrawal; duloxetine; escitalopram; serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor; placebo effect; randomized controlled trial (topic); treatment resistant depression; cognitive behavioral therapy; adolescent depression; network meta-analysis