TY - JOUR T1 - Leave the kids alone JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 891 LP - 891 VL - 55 IS - 520 AU - Mike Fitzpatrick Y1 - 2005/11/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/55/520/891.abstract N2 - In 1992, the ‘Defeat Depression’ campaign set out to educate GPs and the public about depression and the availability of treatment for it.1 In 2001, the follow-up ‘Changing Minds’ campaign urged doctors to be alert to the diagnosis of depression ‘at any age, even among children and young people’.2 Both campaigns were backed by the Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and GPs, by the Department of Health — and by drug companies producing antidepressants.It is not surprising that these campaigns have resulted in an upsurge in the diagnosis of depression among children as well as adults and that 40 000 under-18s are now taking antidepressants. Alarmed at this dramatic increase in the administration of psychotropic medication to young people — and at studies suggesting that some antidepressants may increase suicidal tendencies — the National Institute of Clinical … ER -