USA Today, "Suicide Alert Has Parents Rethinking Antidepressants"

          Use of antidepressants by children and teenagers declined sharply last year after the drugs were linked to suicidal behavior, according to an analysis for USA Today by pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions.
          The medicines' popularity had soared for more than a decade. But the Food and Drug Administration started issuing warnings about the drugs to doctors in 2003, and in October 2004 it ordered "black box" labels, the strongest warning possible, on all antidepressants. About two out of 100 children become more suicidal because they're on the pills, according to studies reviewed by the FDA. The black boxes are expected to start appearing this month.
         Pediatricians often do follow-up care after kids get the pills from psychiatrists. But safety concerns are causing pediatricians to back off, says child psychiatrist David Fassler of Burlington, Vt. "We've been getting more referrals from kids previously followed by pediatricians," Fassler says. Because of a shortage of psychiatric specialists, wait lists are growing, he adds.
          Many mental health experts such as Fassler worry that a "wait and see" approach, plus longer lines for psychiatrists, could be lethal for some kids.