Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors for children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

1. To briefly review the scientific basis for the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children and adolescents. 2) To review the current data on the efficacy, safety and tolerability in children and adolescents.

METHOD

A Medline search back to 1990 was conducted. Review articles and double blind, placebo controlled trials were critically reviewed. Additional hand searches were performed with key journals and in specific areas of interest for this paper.

RESULTS

Most of the published papers are from North America. There is an increasing use of SSRIs in child and adolescent psychiatry. The main disorders studied are mood and anxiety disorders. The data supporting efficacy is still limited. The most robust data is in the treatment of OCD and depression.

CONCLUSION

Taking the limited data together with clinical experience and with adult studies, there is a valuable role for SSRIs as a component of treatment for various child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.