Analysis confirms antidepressant suicide risk in young adults

People under age 25 who take antidepressants have a higher risk of suicide, but adults older than that do not, an analysis by U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers released this week showed.

The report by the FDA scientists confirms earlier studies and supports the agency's age-related warnings on the drugs' labeling.

In February 2005, the FDA added a so-called black box warning -- the agency's strongest warning -- on the use of all antidepressants in young children and teens to draw attention to the possible risks of these medications. In May 2007, it extended the warnings to young adults aged 18 to 24.