Number of city kids using antidepressants doubles
THE number of children on antidepressants has almost doubled in Glasgow since 2011.
More than 4000 children have been prescribed the powerful drugs over the last six years, including a one-year-old baby.
Despite the rise, medics say the figures are only the “tip of the iceberg”, with the number of children being referred to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for mental health problems trebling in the last decade.
Figures obtained by the Evening Times show a steady increase in prescriptions – with more than 1200 children being given the drugs last year alone.
In 2010/11, 724 kids under 18 were on the drugs, while in 2015/16, 1210 had been prescribed them.
While the number of kids under nine being given the drugs has remained fairly steady – around 15 cases each year, prescriptions for 13-year-olds has soared by 242 per cent in six years – rising from 19 to 65.
The second largest increase has been in 15-year-olds, with a 118 per cent rise between 2010/11 and 2015/16.
The latest figures show 192 15-year-olds are taking the medication, compared to just 88 in 2010.
According to a Glasgow psychiatrist, the increase in referrals for under-18s presents its own challenges for the health service.
Dr Elaine Lockhart, a consultant in Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry at the Royal Hospital for Children, said the destigmatisation of mental health problems and increased publicity for support services has contributed to the rise in referrals.
She said: “We are seeing around three times the number of referrals now as we did 10 years ago.
“That is good, but also challenging and we always know we have seen the tip of the iceberg.
“Around 10 per cent of children and young people at any one time will have a mental health disorder which has an impact on their functioning.”
She said in some cases antidepressants are used to treat other conditions but the majority of children on the medication would have “moderate to severe” depression.
“In the case of the one-year-old child, I suspect that has been prescribed by a paediatrician.
“Small doses of antidepressants can be used for chronic pain – the child could have had a complex disability for example and it was used for muscle spasms.”
Dr Lockhart explained that children under 16 should always be prescribed antidepressants by specialists due to the risks of “increased suicidality” in some cases.
She added that medication would be used “where a child is really struggling with depression and are in a state where they are unable to access talking treatments as they are so depressed and are missing out on a lot of things, particularly school and, social activities.
“It’s the severe end of the population who would need them.”
She said: “They should be seen by specialists, who are keeping an eye on their mood and wellbeing.
“GPs may be prescribing them but it certainly is not recommended.”