Antidepressant treatment in childhood linked to better education, employment and mental health outcomes, new study finds

Antidepressant treatment in childhood linked to better education, employment and mental health outcomes, new study finds

Large-scale research suggests carefully managed treatment can improve life chances, particularly for disadvantaged children

New research tracking children from adolescence into adulthood has found that antidepressant treatment during childhood can deliver significant long-term benefits, including improved educational achievement, stronger employment prospects and reduced rates of self-harm and suicide attempts.

Carried out by economists at the University of Warwick, the University of Copenhagen, and the ROCKWOOL Foundation, the study provides some of the first large-scale evidence on how antidepressant use in childhood affects outcomes into adulthood.

Using comprehensive Danish administrative data, the researchers followed children aged 8–15 who were referred to child psychiatrists and examined outcomes across education, health and the labour market. Their findings suggest that, when prescribed as part of a clinically supervised treatment pathway, antidepressants can improve both short-term mental health and long-term life outcomes.

The research found that children who received antidepressant treatment achieved higher academic performance by age 16, were more likely to continue into post-compulsory education, earned more in adulthood and were less likely to depend on welfare benefits.

Treatment was also associated with lower rates of self-harm, suicide attempts and related hospital contacts in the months following treatment initiation.

Professor Sonia Bhalotra of the University of Warwick said:

"Mental health conditions affect around 15% of children aged 10–19 worldwide, and can have lasting consequences if left untreated. Our findings suggest that, for children with mental health needs who are assessed by specialists, antidepressant treatment can improve educational outcomes, labour market success and mental health over the longer term."

A key finding of the study is that the benefits appear strongest among children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, despite these children being less likely to receive treatment.

Dr N. Meltem Daysal of the University of Copenhagen said:

"One of the most important findings is that the children who appear to benefit most are often those least likely to receive treatment. This raises important questions about equity of access and how healthcare systems identify and support vulnerable young people."

The study does not advocate widespread prescribing. Instead, the authors emphasise that antidepressants should be considered as one component of a broader package of care that includes specialist assessment, monitoring and psychological support.

Mircea Trandafir of the ROCKWOOL Foundation said:

"Our findings support timely access to evidence-based treatment rather than a medication-first approach. The results highlight the importance of specialist care pathways and reducing barriers that prevent children from receiving appropriate support when they need it."

The findings carry important implications for child mental health policy in the UK. While prescribing rates in England and Denmark are broadly similar, the study highlights differences in access to specialist care. In the UK, only around one in four children receiving antidepressants have seen a specialist, compared to much higher rates of specialist oversight in Denmark.

The researchers suggest that improving access to specialist assessment and ensuring equitable treatment could help reduce long-term social and economic costs associated with untreated mental health conditions.

• Policy briefing: Antidepressant use in childhood: Evidence and implications
• Read the full research paper: Antidepressant Treatment in Childhood, by Sonia Bhalotra, N. Meltem Daysal and Mircea Trandafir (CAGE Working Paper 766).