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U.K. Study of Children and Anti-Depressants

An analysis by the British medical journal The Lancet of unpublished drug company studies done on children and teens who take antidepressants concludes that only one drug, fluoxetine (known also by the brand name Prozac), was not associated with negative outcomes for children with depression. Last year, Britain's Committee on Safety of Medicines prohibited the treatment of childhood depression with any antidepressant except fluoxetine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not taken this action, though it has approved only fluoxetine for children. NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on whether the new analysis sheds more light on the controversy about these medications.

Copyright 2004 NPR

Joanne Silberner is a health policy correspondent for National Public Radio. She covers medicine, health reform, and changes in the health care marketplace.