Large study on antidepressant use among children and adolescents

Duke University is launching a a large study to learn about the role of antidepressants in the treatment of children and adolescents.

The first study to be conducted under the CAPTN
umbrella is ASK, a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2,420
children and adolescents with a depressive disorder, anxiety disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder or eating disorder. The study
participants will be prescribed either a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
While these two classes of medications are widely used among adults and
prescribed to approximately two to three percent of American children,
questions have arisen about potential adverse events, especially
suicidal events, associated with use of these medications. Through ASK,
information will be collected about the safety, tolerability,
effectiveness and potential benefits of these medications.

CDC press release

I am a little late with this blog. Life has certainly gotten busy over the last few weeks. The CDC issued a press release on September 6, 2007 in regards to youth suicide rates. For the first time in 15 years suicide rates have increased.

Following a decline of more than 28 percent, the suicide rate for 10- to-24-year-olds increased by 8 percent, the largest single-year rise in 15 years, according to a report released today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention′s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

The decline took place from 1990 to 2003 (from 9.48 to 6.78 per 100,000 people), and the increase took place from 2003 to 2004, (from 6.78 to 7.32), the report said

“This is the biggest annual increase that we′ve seen in 15 years. We don′t yet know if this is a short-lived increase or if it′s the beginning of a trend,” said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of CDC′s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Either way, it′s a harsh reminder that suicide and suicide attempts are affecting too many youth and young adults. We need to make sure suicide prevention efforts are continuous and reaching children and young adults.”

Underage Drinking

This article suggests that children often start using alcohol between the fourth and sixth grade.  This is stunning.

Donovan gathered data from four U.S. surveys on children and alcohol
ranging from the 1990s until 2005. The most recent survey, conducted
from 2004-2005 and including about 25,000 students, shows that about 7
percent of fourth-graders, more than 8 percent of fifth-graders, and
about 13 percent of sixth-graders had drunk beer, liquor, or wine
coolers in the past year.