Antidepressants
Synonyms
Definition
Antidepressants are the class of drugs prescribed primarily to treat symptoms of depression. They are also indicated for the treatment of ADHD, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and sleep disorders.
Description
Antidepressant medications are prescribed primarily for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents, but are also used in the treatment of other common childhood disorders including ADHD, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and sleep disorders. These include six classes. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SSNRIs), Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), and Others. In 2002, 11 million prescriptions for antidepressants were written for children under the age of 18 years [1].
Tricyclics...
References
- 1.FDA Public Health Advisory (2009). Revisions to product labeling. Food and drug administration. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/antidepressants_label_change_2007.pdf
- 2.Green, W. H. (2007). Child and adolescent clinical psychopharmacology (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.Google Scholar
- 3.Harpaz-Rotem, L., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2006). Prescribing practices of psychiatrists and primary care physicians caring for children with mental illness. Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(2), 225–23.Google Scholar
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- 6.Zito, J. M., Safer, D. J., Dosreis, S., Gardner, J. F., Soeken, K., Boles, M., et al. (2002). Rising prevalence of antidepressants among US youths. Pediatrics, 109, 721–727.PubMedGoogle Scholar