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Introduction to adolescent mental health
Introduction to adolescent mental health

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3 Medical interventions

The first line of treatment offered nowadays will in many cases involve ‘talking therapies’. However, in some cases medical interventions may be offered for mental health problems. These typically comprise different types of medication such as anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants. The next activity asks you to consider what you already know about antidepressants for young people.

Activity 6: Understanding the role of anti-depressants

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Below is a list of statements relating to antidepressants. For each statement, decide whether it is true or false.

a. 

True


b. 

False


The correct answer is b.

Answer

False: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] warns against using St John’s wort for the treatment of depression in children and young people.

a. 

True


b. 

False


The correct answer is a.

Answer

True: see the NICE guidelines.

a. 

True


b. 

False


The correct answer is b.

Answer

False: Fluoxetine is often the first line of treatment when drugs are deemed necessary.

a. 

True


b. 

False


The correct answer is a.

Answer

True: The risk of suicide is greatest in the early stages of treatment. This may be due to the fact that the drugs need to be taken for a few weeks before they become effective in treating depression (which is itself associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour). Firm explanations are still being sought. Source: Gov.uk