The Guardian reports that prescription of antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs to children increased rapidly from 2005 to 2007.
The findings are worrying, partly because they may illustrate an increase in children presenting with mental health problems and potentially an increasing willingness among medical professionals to turn to drugs to treat them.
Nice guidelines, issued in 2005, suggested that antidepressants should only be prescribed to children in more severe cases and alongside psychological therapy. It would be interesting to find out how many of the 221,000 prescriptions for antidepressants in 2007 were accompanied by a course of therapy.
Nice guidelines on ADHD, admittedly issued in 2008, suggest drugs should only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment package.
Sadly, the Guardian points out that no data is available post 2007.
Nice guidelines, issued in 2005, suggested that antidepressants should only be prescribed to children in more severe cases and alongside psychological therapy. It would be interesting to find out how many of the 221,000 prescriptions for antidepressants in 2007 were accompanied by a course of therapy.
Nice guidelines on ADHD, admittedly issued in 2008, suggest drugs should only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment package.
Sadly, the Guardian points out that no data is available post 2007.
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