Antidepressiva bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Antidepressants (AD) are effective interventions embedded in a multimodal treatment concept for depressive disorders as well as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders in childhood and adolescence. For further specific indications they might be beneficial. For SSRI the best evidence for efficacy and tolerability exists in childhood and adolescents compared to other AD. Prescription should follow a comprehensive child and adolescent psychiatric/ psychotherapeutic assessment and a detailed information about medication of patients and their caregivers. Treatment of anxiety disorders with an SSRI according to Germany Treatment guidelines (AWMF) is off-label. There is only one approved and recommended medication for the treatment of depressive disorders. For the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders, there are two medications approved and recommended for use in children and adolescents. Other applications are predominantly off-label in the field of children and adolescents. Necessary control examinations (clinically, as well as ECG and laboratory examinations) should be carried out before and during treatment with antidepressants. Whenever possible, the monitoring and termination of AD-therapy should be carried out by specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, or at least coordinated by a specialist.