A reanalysis of a study originally published in 2001 shows dangers of antidepressants paroxetine and imipramine.
Researchers recently found that major antidepressants do not work for teenagers and may increase suicide. The worst part is that over a decade ago, the same study was used to convince us that the same antidepressants were actually very helpful for adolescents.
Fortunately, a different group of researchers went back and reviewed data from the original study. They found very different and somewhat frightening results.
Conclusions: Neither paroxetine nor high dose imipramine showed efficacy for major depression in adolescents, and there was an increase in harms with both drugs. Access to primary data from trials has important implications for both clinical practice and research, including that published conclusions about efficacy and safety should not be read as authoritative. The reanalysis of Study 329 illustrates the necessity of making primary trial data and protocols available to increase the rigour of the evidence base.Credit: Le Noury Joanna, Nardo John M, Healy David,Jureidini Jon, Raven Melissa, Tufanaru Catalin et al.Restoring Study 329: efficacy and harms of paroxetine and imipramine in treatment of major depression in adolescence BMJ 2015; 351 :h4320
Take a look for yourself. The abstract is pretty short and straightforward.
