Guidance on antidepressants to be launched

New guidelines about anti-depressant drugs are to be issued to
doctors today by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence,
writes Clare Jerrom.

Louis Appleby

The updated advice on the treatment of depression and anxiety
follows the publication of a review of the group of antidepressants
known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) by the
committee on safety of medicines. Findings will be published
alongside the guidance.

There are fears that children in the UK are increasingly being
prescribed antidepressants and concerns about the safety of the
drugs have frequently been raised.

The advice will be launched by mental health tsar Louis Appleby,
NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon and Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency chief executive professor Kent
Woods.