Prozac No More Effective Than Placebo for Teen Depression, Landmarkโข Study Finds
Paris, France – November 22, 2025 – A major new โขstudy published today challenges decades of common practice, revealing thatโฃ prozac,โค a โwidely prescribed antidepressant, offers no โsignificant benefit โขover a placebo in treating depression among โadolescents. The research, published in โฃ Le Figaroโ Santรฉ,โ indicates โthat the drug’s perceived โคeffectivenessโข in thisโ age group may be largely attributable to the placebo effect.
The findings haveโ profound implications forโค the millions of teenagers globally diagnosed with depression and the clinicians who โฃtreat them. While antidepressants remain a valuable tool for many adults, this study โขsuggests a reevaluation โฃof their routineโค use in adolescent โคpopulationsโฃ is urgently โคneeded. Experts warn that relying solely on medication without incorporating robust psychological therapies could be detrimental, perhaps exposing โyoung โpeople to unnecessary side effectsโ and delaying access toโฃ more effective interventions.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved a โthorough analysis of data โคfrom numerous participants struggling with major depressive disorder. Researchersโ found noโ statistically โsignificant difference in betterment rates between those receiving โขProzac and those receiving aโ placebo. This outcome raises questions about โthe neurobiologicalโ mechanisms underlying depression in adolescents, which may differ from those in adults.
“These results are a wake-up call,” stated Dr. [Name Redacted – source does not provide], a leading psychiatrist not involved inโฃ the study.”We needโ to shift our focus towards evidence-based psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family โtherapy, as first-line treatments for adolescent depression.”
The study โขunderscores the importance of a holisticโ approach toโข mental healthcare,emphasizing โthe needโข forโฃ individualized treatment plans that address theโข complex โinterplayโ of biological,psychological,andโฃ socialโค factors โcontributing to depression โin teenagers. โคFurther โคresearch is planned to explore choice treatment strategies and โขidentify biomarkers that can โpredict treatment response in this vulnerable population.