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The FDA and ABCs: Unintended Consequences of Antidepressant Warnings on Human Capital

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  • Susan H. Busch
  • Ezra Golberstein
  • Ellen Meara

Abstract

Using annual cross-sectional data on over 100,000 adolescents aged 12–17, we studied academic and behavioral outcomes among those who were and were not likely affected by FDA warnings regarding the safety of antidepressants. Compared to other adolescents, adolescents with probable depression experienced a relative decline in grade point average of 0.14 points following the FDA warnings. The FDA warnings also coincided with increased delinquency, use of tobacco, and use of illicit drugs. Together, our results stress the importance of mental health and its treatment as an input into cognitive and noncognitive aspects of human capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan H. Busch & Ezra Golberstein & Ellen Meara, 2014. "The FDA and ABCs: Unintended Consequences of Antidepressant Warnings on Human Capital," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 49(3), pages 540-557.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:49:y:2014:iii:1:p:540-57
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    2. Nafilyan, Vahé & Pabon, Mauricio Avendano & de Coulon, Augustin, 2021. "The Causal Impact of Depression on Cognitive Functioning: Evidence from Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 14049, IZA Network @ LISER.
    3. Ezra Golberstein & Daniel Eisenberg & Marilyn F. Downs, 2016. "Spillover Effects in Health Service Use: Evidence From Mental Health Care Using First‐Year College Housing Assignments," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 40-55, January.
    4. Ezra Golberstein & Gilbert Gonzales & Ellen Meara, 2016. "Economic Conditions and Children's Mental Health," NBER Working Papers 22459, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Friedman, Abigail S., 2020. "Smoking to cope: Addictive behavior as a response to mental distress," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    6. Sevim, Dilek & Baranov, Victoria & Bhalotra, Sonia & Maselko, Joanna & Biroli, Pietro, 2023. "Trajectories of Early Childhood Skill Development and Maternal Mental Health," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1469, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    7. Bütikofer, Aline & Cronin, Christopher J. & Skira, Meghan M., 2020. "Employment effects of healthcare policy: Evidence from the 2007 FDA black box warning on antidepressants," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Cornaglia, Francesca & Crivellaro, Elena & McNally, Sandra, 2015. "Mental health and education decisions," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 1-12.
    9. Masiero, Giuliano & Steinbach, Sandro, 2020. "Happy Pills? Mental Health Effects of the Dramatic Increase of Antidepressant Use," IZA Discussion Papers 13727, IZA Network @ LISER.
    10. Giuliano Masiero & Fabrizio Mazzonna & Sandro Steinbach & Olaf Verbeek, 2019. "The effect of local growth in antidepressant consumption on mental health outcomes," IdEP Economic Papers 1902, USI Università della Svizzera italiana.
    11. Mullahy, John, 2024. "Analyzing health outcomes measured as bounded counts," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
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    13. Arne Risa Hole & Anita Ratcliffe, 2015. "The impact of the London bombings on the wellbeing of young Muslims," Working Papers 2015002, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.
    14. Bhan, Prateek Chandra & Vornberger, Judith & Wen, Jinglin, 2024. "Reflection and mental health: Experimental evidence from Germany," Working Papers 38, University of Konstanz, Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality. Perceptions, Participation and Policies".
    15. Sevim, Dilek & Baranov, Victoria & Bhalotra, Sonia & Maselko, Joanna & Biroli, Pietro, 2023. "Trajectories of Early Childhood Skill Development and Maternal Mental Health," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 674, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    16. Ezra Golberstein & Gilbert Gonzales & Ellen Meara, 2019. "How do economic downturns affect the mental health of children? Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(8), pages 955-970, August.

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