Depression in children: relationship between plasma imipramine levels and response.
The effects of imipramine treatment and plasma drug levels were studied in 20 prepubertal children (16 males, 4 females; age range 7-12 years) hospitalized for major depressive disorder (DSM-III criteria). No change in symptomatology was seen after 2 weeks of individual/group/family psychotherapy, but 12 children experienced a remission within 6 weeks of beginning imipramine. Response to the drug was concentration-dependent; of the children who achieved total tricyclic (imipramine plus desipramine) plasma levels of 125-225 ng/ml, 92% responded, compared with 25% of those outside this range. Antidepressant response was correlated both with total tricyclic plasma levels and with plasma desipramine levels (r = 0.72 and 0.56, respectively), but not with plasma levels of imipramine alone.
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine