Makers of popular antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor have refused to disclose the details of most clinical trials involving depressed children, denying doctors and parents crucial evidence as they weigh fresh fears that such medicines may cause some children to become suicidal. The companies say the studies are trade secrets. Researchers familiar with the unpublished data said the majority of secret trials show that children taking the medicines did not get any better than children taking dummy pills. This is especially concerning as more and more American children are being treated with psychiatric drugs. The number of children taking drugs such as Prozac has tripled from 1987 to 1996 and continued to increase through 2000.
Washington Post January 29, 2004