USA
FDA asked to Monitor Youth SSRI Prescription Drop
By AACAP & APA
Sep 9, 2005, 15:57

A new analysis on prescription patterns, based on a two-year dataset by NDC Health Inc., shows a statistically significant drop in the prescription of antidepressents of nearly 20 percent for youth aged 18 and under. This dramatic shift raises the question of whether those children and adolescents with depression who are no longer taking medication are receiving any care at all�or are receiving the most effective care. Several studies, including the Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), led by AACAP Member John March, M.D. and funded by the NIMH, have shown a combination treatment approach (medication with talk therapy) as being the most effective, a course of treatment that appears endangered by such a sharp decrease in the medication portion of treatment.

On June 21, 2005, the American Medical Association (AMA) joined the AACAP and the APA in urging the FDA to evaluate the impact of its regulatory action on treatment patterns, patient compliance, and patient access to quality mental health care. The FDA has acknowledged that it �has not systematically tracked antidepressant prescribing in the pediatric population.�

The AACAP and APA expressed their interest to F.D.A. Commissioner Lester Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D. in developing a sound methodology for measuring the effects of the warning. Both organizations appealed to the FDA, in order to remind the agency about the documented, pervasive undertreatment of child and adolescent depression, and that the most dangerous course of treatment is no treatment at all.

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