Best evidence suggests antidepressants aren’t very effective in kids and teens. What can be done instead?

Even before COVID-19 lockdowns, school closures and strict social distancing, depression was on the rise in children and teenagers around the globe. By the age of 19, around 25% of adolescents are estimated to have experienced a depressive episode. By the age of 30, this figure grows to 53%.

A number of studies point to an increasing use of antidepressants in young people. So, what do we now know about how well antidepressants work in children and young people?

A new Cochrane review, published today, found that on average, antidepressants led to only small improvements in depression symptoms compared with placebo in children and adolescents (ranging in age from six to 18 years old).

Here, review authors Sarah Hetrick, Joanne McKenzie, Nick Meader and Sally Merry explore the latest evidence and the implication for young people’s mental health.