SSRIs in anorexia
Following recent concerns about the use of certain SSRIs in adolescents, I was interested to see the following in the September issue of Science:
SCIENCE VOL 305 3 SEPTEMBER 2004
Antidepressants� Use in Anorexic Girls
THE USE OF SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants in children is debated because of the potential risk of suicide
(�Buried data can be hazardous to a company�s health,� E. Marshall, News of the Week, 11 June, p. 1576; �Volatile chemistry: children and antidepressants,� J. Couzin, News Focus, 23 July, p. 468). In our work with adolescent girls suffering from anorexia nervosa, we have noticed that at least 50% are routinely prescribed SSRIs. Yet SSRIs have no effect on the psychiatric symptoms of anorexia, and there is no evidence that they affect outcome favorably (1). In addition, we have repeatedly [most recently in (1)] pointed out that serotonin, the neurotransmitter system that is stimulated by SSRIs, inhibits food intake, gonadotropin secretion, and sexual behavior; decreases body temperature; and makes learning difficult. These are highly undesirable effects not only in anorexic adolescents but in all developing women. Hence, there are many reasons other than the risk of suicide why SSRIs should not be used in young women.
PER S�DERSTEN AND CECILIA BERGH, Karolinska Institutet, Section of Applied
Neuroendocrinology,AB Mando, Novum, S-141 57
Huddinge, Sweden.
Reference
1. C. Bergh, J. Ejderhamn, P. S�dersten, Curr. Opin.
Pediatr. 15, 344 (2003).
Thanks to Walter Vandereycken for drawing my attention to this via the AED mailing list.
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