title: Treatment options in the management of adolescent depression.
abstract: Treatment for depression in children and adolescents often requires pharmacotherapy with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), followed by psychotherapy. Most studies have not found the TCAs to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. Initial reports, however, have found the SSRIs to be more effective and better tolerated. In the small proportion of children who have treatment-resistant depression, TCAs plus lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be useful. More studies on the treatment of depression in children and adolescents are needed, as adult data cannot simply be extrapolated.
authors.affiliation: The Child Guidance Center of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors