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Depression is disabling a growing proportion of children, but evidence on treatment is disputed.
Andrew Cotgrove believes drugs are a vital part of the armoury but Sammi Timimi is unconvinced that they are helpful or safe.

Should young people be given anti-depressants?
Yes says Andrew Cotgrove, these drugs are a vital part of the armoury
No says Sami Timimi. He is unconvinced that they are helpful or safe.

Tell us what you think

Source: BMJ.
Andrew Cotgrove is Clinical Director at Pine Lodge Young People’s Centre, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Chester CH2 1AW.
Sami Timimi is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8QA .

 Teenage pregnancy is widely recognized to be a major public health concern. These young mothers face many life challenges and they have an increased risk for becoming depressed. How might the behavior of these young mothers be related to later psychiatric or behavioral problems in some of their offspring? A new study being published in Biological Psychiatryon September 15th suggests an association between a history of depression in the mothers, a particular style of mothering, “maternal over-control”, and increased stress reactivity of their infants. [continue reading…]

High levels of a male sex hormone in foetuses are linked to a higher chance of developing autistic traits in childhood, scientists say. The findings come from an eight-year study relating the development of 253 children to levels of testosterone they were exposed to in the womb.

The scientists said it was unclear whether the hormone was causing the traits or was a by-product of them.

The research was presented at the BA Festival of Science in York. [continue reading…]