From the 11/2 Show – Why Do Parents Feel Comfortable Putting Their Children at Risk?

A recent study was released earlier this week: Researchers led by Johns Hopkins doctors have found that three popular treatments for childhood anxiety disorders are all effective, but that combining an antidepressant with behavioral therapy is the superior treatment.
The article stated that “behavioral therapy” is actually more effective than “drug therapy” using the brand name Zoloft’s generic ingredient, Sertraline as the test drug. The study lasted 12 weeks. The study stated that using both drug and behavioral therapy together is about 20 per cent more effective than behavioral therapy alone.
The major question the radio show presented was why with behavioral therapy so successful, within a 12 week time frame (60%), would a parent subject their children to a drug that has been reported to be implicated in many deaths. On February 4, 2004, and reported by the Washington Post, “dozens of parents, siblings and doctors from all over the country gave lengthy and moving testimony describing family members and patients who had committed suicide or had turned violent after taking the drugs” (note: number of reactions to Sertraline was not quantified).
We put our children in child seats, have them wear bike helmets, watch their diet, etc., but have no problem subjecting them to drugs that have a chance of death. Regardless of the percentages and odds, why would a parent decide to put their child in danger when appropriate behavioral therapy has been proven to work?