Recommendations for Treatment
In its report, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Task Force on SSRIs and Suicidal Behavior in Youth made six recommendations related to“ identifying the most effective and safest treatments” for depression in youth:
Fluoxetine should continue to be used to treat major depression in youth. Other SSRIs need further testing in randomized, controlled trials using fluoxetine as an active comparator. Until more data are available,“ monitoring of suicidal thoughts in patients treated with antidepressants is necessary.” | |||||
“All data held by FDA or pharmaceutical companies should be made rapidly” available for independent evaluations of risk and benefit. | |||||
Better measures and systematic assessment procedures are needed in clinical trials to evaluate suicidal behavior. | |||||
Clinical trials must be designed in a more uniform and consistent manner, including outcome measures, length of treatment, and determination of optimal dosing. | |||||
Regulations should require “systematic inquiry should be required of past and current suicidal behavior and ideation in any randomized controlled trial being submitted.” | |||||
More effective treatments are needed urgently. Randomized controlled trials should not attempt to exclude all currently suicidal patients. | |||||
