Nefazodone treatment of adolescent depression: an open-label study of response and biochemistry.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to find whether nefazodone, effective in adult depression, might be similarly improve symptoms of adolescent depression. Secondary purpose was to relate platelet serotonin content to response, and to find if nefazodone's effect on platelet content was similar to that of the SSRIs.


METHODS
10 adolescents meeting DSMIV criteria for major depression received up to 400 mg of nefazodone for an eight week period. Response was assessed at baseline, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks by BDI and HDRS; platelet serotonin (5HT) content was obtained at baseline and final visit (for two dropouts, this was done at last visit, i.e., week 4).


RESULTS
In LOCF analysis, significant improvement was found in both HDRS (20.9 to 8.9, p = .01) and BDI (24.6 to 10.2, p = .01). Eight of nine patients with available data showed increases in platelet 5HT content (.02). In seven patients of eight completers with available data, there was a nonsignificant trend for patients with platelet 5HT baseline greater than 30 ng/10(8) platelets to show a greater change in HDRS than those with a baseline of less than 30 ng/10(8) platelets (p = .07).


CONCLUSIONS
Further double-blind study of nefazodone in adolescent depression is indicated; nefazodone appears to increase platelet 5HT content.
Goodnick
P J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Jorge
C A
CA
Hunter
T
T
Kumar
A M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D010879:Piperazines; D014230:Triazoles; D012701:Serotonin; C051752:nefazodone