Quality of Care for Medicaid-Covered Youth Treated With AntidepressantTherapy

Abstract

By age 18 years, it is estimated that 20% of youth will have experiencedat least 1 episode of major depression.¹ Depressedyouth are at increased risk for suicide, school failure, substance abuse,nicotine dependence, obesity, early pregnancy, and social isolation.^2,3 The results of recent studies^4-7 suggestthat selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) may beeffective in reducing symptoms of depression in adolescents and children.However, information is limited on the efficacy and safety of antidepressantdrugs in this age group.