ACNP Report Finds No Link between SSRIs and Suicide in Pediatric Patients

WASHINGTON - The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) issued a report Jan. 21 concluding that antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family of drugs do not increase the risk of suicide in pediatric patients.

The ACNP Task Force, which was comprised of the nation's leading scientists in the field, wrote the report after they examined data from more than 15 clinical trials involving more than 2,000 youth using SSRI antidepressants. The researchers also found that an older class of psychopharmacologic drugs, known tricyclic antidepressants, were ineffective in patients under age 18.

In addition to clinical studies, the ACNP …