Recent news reports questioning the safety and effectiveness of several antidepressant medications widely prescribed for children — Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor and Celexa — raise a key question: What other treatments have been proven safe and effective for kids with depression?

The practice guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (AACAP) hold that talk therapy (also known as psychosocial therapy) should be the first line of treatment for children with depression. Medication is called for as a first treatment only in the most severe cases of depression — when a child is incapacitated, suicidal or otherwise endangered by the illness, said Susan Swedo, associate director of child and adolescent research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The Washington Post reports on this issue.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 28 Apr 2004
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