Antidepressants may be linked to suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults, but not in adults over 25. However, not treating depression may also increase the risk of suicide. Depression is a serious problem in children and adolescents, and while SSRIs may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts, long-term use may improve mood and reduce the risk of suicide. Stopping antidepressants may put young people at even higher risk of suicide.
Although most people who use antidepressant medications experience an improvement in mood and a decrease in suicidal thoughts and feelings, some evidence suggests that there may be a link between antidepressant use and suicide. The link between antidepressant use and suicide may be most pronounced in children and adolescents under the age of 18 and in young adults aged 18 to 25 years. Researchers believe that adults over the age of 25 do not show an increased risk of suicide while taking antidepressants. Most experts believe that the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors is highest during the initial stages of treatment for depression and that children, adolescents and young adults may need to be monitored more closely during the initial stages of treatment. Most experts believe that despite the possible link between antidepressant use and suicide in children and young people, not treating depression may also increase the risk of suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Depression among children and adolescents is considered a serious public health problem. Approximately 12% of children are believed to suffer from a depressive disorder, while approximately 12% of adolescents may suffer from a depressive disorder. SSRI inhibitors, such as Prozac®, are often prescribed to treat symptoms of depression in children and adolescents.
Research would appear to indicate that the use of SSRI inhibitors in people younger than 25 may increase their risk of suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Suicide is believed to be a leading cause of death in both children and adolescents. While antidepressant use and suicide attempts or successful suicides may be linked, experts often point out that depression itself can greatly increase a person’s risk of suicide. Many experts believe that children and adolescents are more likely to experience an increase in suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviors during the first few months of treatment. Current studies appear to support the theory that, with long-term use, antidepressants may help these young patients experience lasting improvements in mood and a reduced risk of suicide.
Many experts are also concerned that the possible link between antidepressants and suicide could lead many young people with depression to stop using antidepressant drugs. Some experts believe that stopping the use of antidepressant drugs may put young people at an even higher risk of suicide than if they continued to use the drugs as prescribed. Others believe that the risks of not treating depression are even greater than the risks of prescribing antidepressant drugs to young people.
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