Critical review of tricyclic antidepressant use in children and adolescents

Barbara Geller; Daniel Reising; Henrietta L. Leonard; Mark A. Riddle; B. Timothy Walsh

doi:10.1097/00004583-199905000-00012

Critical review of tricyclic antidepressant use in children and adolescents

Barbara Geller, Daniel Reising, Henrietta L. Leonard, Mark A. Riddle, B. Timothy Walsh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

119 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To provide a critical review of the role of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medications in children and adolescents. Method: Multiple resources including a Medline search (1966-1998) were used. Results: There were few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of TCAs, and even fewer with positive results. Also, potentially serious cardiovascular side effects have been described. Conclusion: The future therapeutic role of TCAs for children and adolescents needs to be seriously weighed against lethality of overdose, the unresolved issue of possible sudden unexplained death, and the availability of safer and easier to monitor medications. Ongoing future research on heart rate variability and epidemiology of psychotropic medication-related deaths will address developmental aspects of TCA use.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	513-516
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume	38
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199905000-00012
State	Published - 1999
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Efficacy
Safety
Tricyclic antidepressants

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1097/00004583-199905000-00012

Cite this

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AU - Geller, Barbara

AU - Reising, Daniel

AU - Leonard, Henrietta L.

AU - Riddle, Mark A.

AU - Timothy Walsh, B.

PY - 1999

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AB - Objective: To provide a critical review of the role of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medications in children and adolescents. Method: Multiple resources including a Medline search (1966-1998) were used. Results: There were few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of TCAs, and even fewer with positive results. Also, potentially serious cardiovascular side effects have been described. Conclusion: The future therapeutic role of TCAs for children and adolescents needs to be seriously weighed against lethality of overdose, the unresolved issue of possible sudden unexplained death, and the availability of safer and easier to monitor medications. Ongoing future research on heart rate variability and epidemiology of psychotropic medication-related deaths will address developmental aspects of TCA use.

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KW - Safety

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Critical review of tricyclic antidepressant use in children and adolescents

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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