title: The efficacy of antidepressants on overall well-being and self-reported depression symptom severity in youth: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent meta-analyses of the efficacy of second-generation antidepressants for youth have concluded that such drugs possess a statistically significant advantage over placebo in terms of clinician-rated depressive symptoms. However, no meta-analysis has included measures of quality of life, global mental health, self-esteem, or autonomy. Further, prior meta-analyses have not included self-reports of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were selected through searching Medline, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials databases as well as GlaxoSmithKline's online trial registry. We included self-reports of depressive symptoms and pooled measures of quality of life, global mental health, self-esteem, and autonomous functioning as a proxy for overall well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a nonsignificant difference between second-generation antidepressants and placebo in terms of self-reported depressive symptoms (k = 6 trials, g = 0.06, p = 0.36). Further, pooled across measures of quality of life, global mental health, self-esteem, and autonomy, antidepressants yielded no significant advantage over placebo (k = 3 trials, g = 0.11, p = 0.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though limited by a small number of trials, our analyses suggest that antidepressants offer little to no benefit in improving overall well-being among depressed children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, Minn., USA.
authors.forename: Glen I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Spielmans
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerwig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D010919:Placebos