title: Open trial of fluoxetine in children and adolescents with dysthymic disorder or double depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic depressions commonly present in youth and cause significant morbidity. No treatment studies in this age group are currently available.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 pediatric subjects with dysthymic disorder or 'double depression' were recruited. After four weeks of psychosocial treatment, subjects failing to improve began open treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg) for eight weeks. Subjects were then reassessed for treatment response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen subjects entered the medication phase, and eleven (73%) no longer met criteria for dysthymic disorder or Major Depression at final assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoxetine shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for youth with chronic depressions. Controlled trials are indicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open label design, no comparison treatment condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As in adults, treatment with antidepressants may prove to be a useful intervention with children and adolescents with chronic forms of depression.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032, USA. waslickb@child.cpmc.columbia.edu
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Waslick
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Greenhill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eilenberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lieber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine