Treating depression in youth - antidepressants helpful?

[shoe]

There has been reports that antidepressants increase the risk of suicide in children, and there has also been many reports of its successful use in the treatment of depression in children. This article discusses this dilemma - should children be prescribed these medications? Is psychotherapy a better alternative?

http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=527859

[MainerMikeBrown]

The problem is that psychotherapy doesn't work for a lot of teens until they get on the right medication first.

I think in many (but not all) cases, talk therapy without meds should be used first. That will work for some. But for the ones where therapy without pills is ineffective, then using psychiatric drugs is best.