Washington, April 18 : University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers have declared anti-depressants to be safe and effective in treating anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.

The findings based on a meta-analysis of 27 major studies put a question mark to the warnings placed on the drugs by the Food and Drug Administration that anti-depressants may induce suicidal thoughts and behaviour in children and adolescents.

“As clinicians, our first concern is for the health and safety of our patients. When the FDA placed the ‘black box’ warning on antidepressants, it raised a great deal of concern about how we were to treat our young patients who we thought could possibly benefit from antidepressant therapy. Most clinicians, patients and their families found themselves questioning whether or not they should be using treatments out of fear of the risks,” said Dr. David A. Brent, professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

The researchers analysed data from 27 trials wherein second-generation antidepressants were used to treat pediatric major depressive disorder, OCD and anxiety in children and adolescents under 19 years of age.

They observed that one in 100 participants in the studies had new-onset suicidal thoughts while on medication, while even fewer acted on such thoughts, and there were no completed suicides.

It was also found that antidepressants were most effective in treating anxiety, moderately effective for OCD and modestly effective for depression.

“By combining data from most of the significant studies of antidepressant use in adolescents and children, we’ve been able to examine a balance of benefits and risks of these medications,” said Dr. Brent.

“Antidepressants are safe and effective for treating disorders like anxiety, OCD and depression in children and adolescents,” he added.

The researchers believe that it would be more risky not to treat patients with anti-depressants for the fear of a small, increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

“While there is a small, increased risk of suicidal thoughts in those who use antidepressants, it would be much, much riskier to not treat these children and adolescents dealing with these disorders.”

“While I support the FDA’s role in monitoring the safety of medications, in this case, the FDA should reconsider the black box warning on these medications. Our study supports the cautious and well-monitored use of antidepressant medications as a first-line treatment for anxiety, OCD and depression,” he added.