9/13/2004

Losing Julie: Teen's Suicide Blamed on Zoloft

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3914957

NPR Morning Edition

Doctors have written millions of prescriptions for antidepressants called SSRIs for American children. But that practice has become controversial in light of research that suggests these drugs may increase the risk of suicide attempts and suicidal thinking in children and teens.

Some parents credit those medicines with saving their children from depression, but others say the drugs have caused suicides. On Monday and Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration holds hearings on the subject.

In the first of two reports, NPR's Joanne Silberner profiles Tom and Kathy Woodward, who blame SSRIs for the death of their 17-year-old daughter, Julie. She committed suicide seven days after she began taking Zoloft.