Which drugs are safest for moderate to severe depression in adolescents?

Abstract

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) appear to be the safest, given current data. Major safety concerns--prompting a US Food and Drug administration (FDA) black box label warning--have been raised about increased risk of suicidality (ideation, behavior, and attempts) among adolescents receiving antidepressant therapy. Information about the safety of tricyclic antidepressants in young people is limited because adverse effects have not been systematically reported in trials (SOR: A, meta-analysis).