Practice-relevant information in the areas of Mental Health, Education, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Family Involvement, and Youth

For Most SSRIs, Risks Outweigh Benefits in Children

From Medscape Medical News, April 26, 2004

Except for fluoxetine, the risks of most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) outweigh the benefits in children, according to the results of a meta-analysis of unpublished and published data, reported in the April 24 issue of The Lancet . In this meta-analysis, the authors reanalyzed published data from randomized controlled trials comparing an SSRI with placebo in children ages 5 to 18 and compared these data with data from unpublished trials made available from the U.K. Committee for the Safety of Medicines.

The published studies alone suggested a favorable risk-benefit ratio for all SSRIs. In contrast, except for fluoxetine, adding data from unpublished trials suggested that the risks of SSRI treatment exceeded the benefits. For example, analysis of all available data on paroxetine showed a small increased risk in suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide.

To read the full article and an accompanying editorial, visit http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/474436?src=mp .  

(Medscape is a free service provided by WebMD; registration is required.)

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Antidepressant Medications for Children: Information for Parents and Caregivers

Depression is a serious disease that causes significant problems at home, in school, and with peers. It increases a child's vulnerability to substance abuse and puts the child at risk for suicidal behaviors. Previous research has shown that depression in children and adolescents is a treatable condition. Medications, particularly the serotonin reuptake-blocking medications (SSRIs), have been shown to be of benefit in adults. Recently, however, concerns have been raised that antidepressant medications themselves may induce suicidal behavior and be ineffective in treating depression in youths. In this brief, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers answers to the following questions to help families and caregivers make treatment choices that are based on the best currently available information:

•  What do we know about antidepressant medications?

•  What remains unknown?

•  What should you do for a child with depression?

•  What NIMH is doing?

To view the complete article, visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/StmntAntidepmeds.cfm .

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Stop Bullying Now

This campaign Web site, created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, is youth friendly and provides resources and research on bullying. The Web site defines bullying and describes the signs and effects of bullying. In addition, it gives suggestions to both youth and adults about how they can stop the cycle of violence and intimidation.

To view this Web site, visit http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp .

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Youth Gangs in Indian Country

This Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Bulletin describes the nature and makeup of youth gangs in Indian country. Drawing on research findings from a survey conducted by the National Youth Gang Center, the Bulletin presents data regarding the presence and consequences of youth gang activity in Indian country and programmatic responses to the problem.

To view the Bulletin, visit http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/202714.pdf .

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New Health Information From the National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health has updated its Web site with new information on the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for many mental illnesses that affect children and adolescents. The following links are to new or updated articles:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm .

A Look at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/alookatadhd.cfm .

Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders): http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm .

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Highlights of the 2002 National Youth Gang Survey

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has published a new two-page Fact Sheet summarizing findings from the 2002 National Youth Gang Survey. The survey used a newly selected sample of law enforcement agencies based on updated data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Census Bureau.

All cities with a population of 250,000 or more reported gang activity in 2002, as did 38 percent of suburban counties, 27 percent of smaller cities, and 12 percent of rural counties responding to the survey. On the basis of survey results, it is estimated that nearly 3,000 jurisdictions across the United States experienced gang activity in 2002.

“Highlights of the National Youth Gang Survey” (FS-200401) is available online at http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=11612 .