Antidepressants (Tricyclic Antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) in adolescents with depressive episode/disorder
Question 11: Are antidepressants (Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)) effective and safe in adolescents with depressive episode/disorder?
- Population: adolescents with depressive episode/disorder
- Interventions: antidepressant drugs:
- tricyclics and related
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Comparison: placebo
- Outcomes:
- reduction of symptoms
- improvement in functioning
- acceptability profile
- adverse effects of treatment (including suicide ideas/ behaviour for SSRIs
Recommendation(s)
Fluoxetine, but not Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) or other Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), may be considered as one possible treatment of adolescents with depressive episode in non-specialist settings. Adolescents on fluoxetine should be monitored closely for suicide ideas/behaviour. For all adolescents on fluoxetine, support and supervision from a mental health specialist should be obtained, if available.
Strength of recommendation: STANDARD