Medication for Anxiety & Compulsive Disorders in Children

Medications such as Prozac, Valium and Tofranil are widely prescribed to children with mental and behavioral disorders. These psychiatric drugs can prove helpful in treating children with anxiety and compulsive disorders. However, the safety and effectiveness of many of these medications are still under considerable debate.

Types

• Common psychiatric medications prescribed for anxiety and compulsive disorders in children include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants such as Prozac. Other psychopharmacological treatments include benzodiazepines, antihistamines and major tranquilizers.

Effects

• Research on the efficacy of medications for anxiety and compulsive disorders in children remains incomplete and inconclusive. Some evidence suggests that SSRIs are more effective than antidepressant drugs, while other studies have shown antidepressants to have minimal benefits if any.

Safety

• Another area of debate regarding medication for the treatment of psychopathology in children is that of safety. The United States Federal Drug Administration recommends that antidepressants be accompanied by a "black box warning," the strongest safety warning issued by the FDA.

Warnings

• The FDA warning has been issued, in part, due to the correlation between antidepressant use and suicide attempts in adolescents. Studies have shown that antidepressant medication can considerably increase the risk of suicide among children and young adults.

Considerations

• Effective treatments for children with anxiety and compulsive disorders encompass a broad-spectrum of therapeutic approaches. Treatment plans that include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as the involvement of the family and the school, have proven the most successful.