GPs prescribing antidepressants to children against guidelines

GPs are breaking guidelines and prescribing antidepressants for children as young as 11 because other therapies are not available. Guidelines say antidepressants should only be given to youngsters alongside talking therapies – and only after the child has been assessed by a psychiatrist.That is not happening, according to a new report from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the NHS research body.A study of more than 21,000 children and teenagers found only 1 in 4 had seen a psychiatrist before being prescribed medication for depression and anxiety. Long waiting times for mental health services and a lack of child and adolescent psychiatrists are likely to blame, the report said.If no specialist services are available and a GP feels a teenager needs urgent help, they may prescribe antidepressants despite the guidelines. This can be ‘life-saving’ if teenagers are very depressed, the report noted.Landmark research this year revealed 62 per cent of people aged up to 25 had to endure waiting times of more than a month, with nine per cent experiencing delays of more than a year.The study also revealed 2,132 had tried to commit suicide before they could see a specialist.  Doctors are prescribing antidepressants against guidelines. (Image: Getty) Talking therapy is advised – but may not be available. (Image: Getty)The study said the process of seeing a psychiatrist before prescribing antidepressants ‘often’ did not happen.The report said: ‘No antidepressants are licensed in the UK for anxiety in children and teenagers under 18 years (except for OCD). Yet both specialists and GPs prescribe them. ‘Thousands of children and teenagers in the UK are taking antidepressants for depression and anxiety. The numbers continue to rise and many have not seen a specialist.’The number of 12- to 17-year-olds in England prescribed antidepressants more than doubled between 2005 and 2017. The Covid pandemic sent that number soaring again, reaching a record high of 27,757 in March 2020. READ MORE: Paracetamol warning as the painkiller can cause haematuria Young people are being prescribed antidepressants without therapy. (Image: Getty)The Royal College of GPs told the Guardian some family doctors do issue the drugs to young people.The RCGP council chair, Prof Martin Marshall, said: ‘In the vast majority of cases antidepressant medication for children will be initiated in specialist care, not in general practice. ‘But GPs are highly trained prescribers and there may be instances where a GP believes it is appropriate and in the best interests of a young patient to prescribe medication for a mental health condition, particularly if they are having difficulties accessing specialist services.’DON’T MISS:State pension payment date changes will take place next month [REPORT]Acholic stools are ‘the most common’ sign of pancreatic cancer [REVEAL]Martin Lewis urges people to put £1 into a HSBC account now [EXPLAINER] Doctors may go against guidelines where specialists aren’t available. (Image: Getty)He added: ‘In many cases medication will be an appropriate and effective intervention for children and young people with mental health conditions.’The study also found that the drug Fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, was effective at treating depression in under-18s. However, Venlaxafine, also known as Efexor, was identified as unsuitable for children because it was associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts.