Alert as children are prescribed anti-depressants

Soaring numbers of British children are being prescribed antidepressants and other mind- altering drugs, studies reveal today.

Researchers at London University found prescriptions for antidepressants, tranquillisers, anti-psychotic drugs and stimulants for children rose 68 per cent between 2000 and 2002.

The other found that between 1992 and 2001 almost 25,000 people aged up to 18 received 93,000 prescriptions for antidepressants. The rate of prescriptions rose 70 per cent in a decade. No antidepressantsare licensed for use by children under 16, but doctors can prescribe them if they deem it clinically appropriate.

"There is concern drugs are being used to replace non-drug treatments," researchers said.

The studies are published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.