Does Antidepressants Use in Teenagers Increase Suicide Rates

Introduction Teen depression is a serious condition that can be a devastating problem for both the child and parent. It is a disorder that reduces their moods thus causing loss of interest in things they should enjoy and make them irritable. In this literature review we are going to examine the use of antidepressants to treat teen depression. It will also look at the risks of suicides increased as a result of taking antidepressants and the measures taken to reduce this problem. Can antidepressants use in Teenagers increase suicide rates/thoughts? In the past few recent years, there has been a developing concern about the use of antidepressants in teenagers (13-20 years of age) as there has been increase in teen depression in the†¦show more content†¦Are antidepressants safe for teenagers? Depression is a treatable condition by the use of psychotherapy or counseling, drug therapy, and other measures can alleviate symptoms and help teenagers to succeed in school, develop and maintain healthy relationships and feel more self-confident. However depression in teenagers can be a very devastating problem for both the child and the parent. In most cases they both want to get back to the â€Å"normal† life that the teen had lead before. In many instances, the parents want to have the child on antidepressant in that it helps to reestablish the normal balance of chemicals in the brain. There are various classes of antidepressants used to treat depression in teenagers they include: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or other atypical antidepressants and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (Goodyer et al., 2007) In healthcare set up if a teenager with depression is prescribed an antidepressant the benefits and possible risks and side effects, instructions for the dose and timing, potential interactions with other prescriptions or non-prescriptions medication and alternatives to medication for example continued therapy. These medications for depression in teenagers are recommended but due to the numerous side effects associated with these drugs which is not safe for the teenagers and the availability of effective alternatives (SSRIs), TCA are lessShow MoreRelatedTeen Suicide Essay examples1443 Words   |  6 PagesSuicides are one of the leading causes of teen deaths in today’s society. The thought of one ending his or her life is developing in the minds of teenagers around the globe. â€Å"To kill oneself as a means of escape from poverty or disappointed love, or bodily or mental anguish, is the deed of coward rather than a brave man, because to run away from trouble is a form of co wardice. While it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill† (Marcovitz 17)Read MoreEffects Of Depression And Its Effects On Young People2089 Words   |  9 PagesEvery 100 minutes a teenager commits suicide (Dave Pallone paragraph 1). Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicides in people under the age of 18. This isn’t the only effect of depression, but it is one of the many ongoing struggles teens face when battling this disorder. Between five hundred thousand to one million adolescents attempt suicide each year but thankfully, only a small amount of those attempts are successful. Teenage depression is a serious mental health issue thatRead MoreThe Effects Of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors3601 Words   |  15 Pagesfatigue, these are all symptoms of being a teenager, or perhaps an indication of a greater issue; childhood depression (Kazdin, 2006). Childhood depression has estimates of a 1-year prevalence as high as 2.5% in children and 8.3% in adolescence (Valnuck, Libby, Sills, Giese, Allen, 2004). This is a tragic suffering experienced by many youths, but in 1987 there was the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s). At first glance, antidepressants may seem to be the answer to a parentRead MoreHypothesis Teen Suicide875 Words   |  4 PagesOver a time span of one year, 2003 to 2004, suicide amongst children, especially teens has risen drastically. Contemplating suicide at any age is horrible. When a teenage, who has the ability to make informed decisions and has all the potential in the world, considers commit ting suicide, this is a tragedy. The tragedy suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. This paper attempts to list theoriesRead MoreManagement of Bipolar Disorder in Adults and Diagnosis in Adolescent Children726 Words   |  3 Pageseffective when properly diagnosed, but there is a risk of suicide while undergoing therapy. Treatments for bipolar disorder our on the market but they can only treat the mania or the depression, which is why the patient needs to be under supervision. When a person does not follow the prescribed course of treatment the risk of suicide increases. Another problem with bipolar disorder is that it can be misdiagnosed in teenagers in going though puberty. There are two formsRead MoreSetting Up Sucide Prevention Programs1427 Words   |  6 Pagesbullying and sex education programs, but suicide, the third leading cause of adolescent deaths (Caine 1), is practically ignored. Many schools only offer hot lines for suicidal students. While some schools have implemented suicide prevention programs and the government has recognized teenage suicide as a growing problem, effective solutions need to be discovered and funded to prevent these catastrophic deaths. The U.S. federal government should develop and fund suicide prevention programs in high schoolsRead MoreColumbine High School Massacre : Self Control Theory Essay1709 Words   |  7 Pageswere both seniors. Collaboratively they murdered 12 students and 1 teacher. Aside from the kills they injured 21 other people, and an additional 3 more while trying to escape the horrendous event. After their killing rampage, the murderers committed suicide. The exact reason of why the committed this crime to this day is unclear. The personal journals of the two perpetrators referenced that they wanted the event to compete with those of the Oklahoma City bombing and other deadly events that happenedRead MoreWhat Causes Depression And Can It Be Prevented?1281 Words   |  6 Pagesthe high rate of depression-related suicide among teenagers. WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION AND CAN IT BE PREVENTED? It s not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental disorders, a variety of factors may be involved (Mayo). Depression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. More women are diagnosed with depression more than men, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment. There are a number of factors that may increase the chanceRead MoreSchool Shootings - Failures of Welfare Society Essay2034 Words   |  9 Pages Schools are no longer a safer environment for teenagers and children in today’s society. Every year, many young lives are taken away due to school shootings. School shootings are widespread issue that seek attention because of their dramatic and frighten nature. These shootings results teenagers who have been harassed or bullied into depression come back with the guns to get revenge. However, School shootings are becoming more and more of an everyday incident around the world. School shootingRead MoreSuicide Through The Lifespan Of Suicide2332 Words   |  10 PagesOverview The overview of suicide through the lifespan. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canada (Suicide Facts at a Glance, n.d.). In cases of suicide among the elderly, there are many social, psychological, and emotional pressures at play. Two of the most frequent causes of death among the elderly are a sense of social isolation and the loss of independence that comes with aging, often in the form of chronic illness or mental incapacitation. The paper is to investigate the research