Researchers from Australia reviewed an anti-depressant drug, paroxetine, and found that the drug is no more effective than a placebo. The drug could also lead youth to attempt suicide, the researchers said.

They claimed during a new study, they found that manufacturer of the drug did not unveil its side-effects and kept focus on its benefits. The researchers reviewed the drug by analyzing data used by pharmaceutical companies to promote the drug sold in the country under the name ‘Aropax’ and ‘Paxil’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the drug was regarded an effective treatment for depression. That time, many clinicians prescribed the drug to a number of people without even considering its side-effects. But after many years, the study has found that the drug was dangerously overstated.

Jon Jureidini, professor who led the study researchers from Adelaide University's Critical and Ethical Mental Health Research Group, said, “We felt that bad prescribing decisions were being made on the basis of the way in which the study was reported. The study claimed to show that paroxetine was effective and safe for young people and in fact, it's the opposite”.

According to Jureidini, the researchers found that about 11 individuals who used the drug experienced suicidal behavior out of less than one hundred patients. On the other side, the placebo group had only one person who experienced suicidal behavior, Jureidini added.

Jureidini said the study does not suggest people not to use paroxetine if they are asked to do so by their doctor.