Expert Answers: Suicide and Antidepressants

Feb. 6, 2007 — -- Monday on "World News " we invited your questions about suicide and antidepressant use among children and teens.

The result was a lively exchange on our online discussion boards. Many of you expressed curiosity and concern over the findings that child and teen suicide rates are up. Others had questions about the class of antidepressant drugs known as SSRIs.

To answer your questions, we sought the expertise of two clinicians. Dr. David Fassler is clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. And Nadine Kaslow is professor and chief psychologist at the Emory University department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Question from gramma2young:

I have a child on Strattera -- a drug which carries a risk of suicidal thoughts. He's just 6 years old, but sometimes he looks like he's feeling depressed. I try to get him to talk, but he's always "fine" or replies, "nothing is wrong." What should I do?

Answer from Fassler:

Talk to your child's doctor and share your questions and concerns. Learn as much as you can about the full range of treatment options. Also, look at the monitoring guide available from Families for Depression Awareness at www.familyaware.org.

Question from KarenannZ:

What are the warning signs of suicide in teens taking these drugs? My 15-year-old son is going downhill fast and sleeps a ton. His grades are just enough to get by, and his behavior in school is rotten. Should I be worried?

Answer from Kaslow:

When children's school performance declines, or if they are less involved socially, having a lot of peer problems, are not involved in meaningful extracurricular activities, or using alcohol or drugs heavily, family members definitely should be concerned.

If your child is on medication, he may need a different medication or a higher dose of the medicine. He can definitely benefit from therapy in addition to medication.

Question from phoenix0six:

I have a 16-year-old daughter who has tried to commit suicide several times. There do not seem to be any warning signs before an attempt. She can just walk in the door and decide to swallow something, or go to school and do something there. We basically walk on egg shells and can never really leave her alone. What do you do with a child like this?