Fluoxetine in adolescents with major depression and an alcohol use disorder: an open-label trial.
Recently, a first placebo-controlled study of an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication was conducted among a sample of adolescents with major depression by Emslie et al. [Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 54 (1997) 1031.]. That study demonstrated efficacy for fluoxetine vs. placebo for treating adolescents with major depression. However, to date, no studies have been conducted to assess the efficacy of fluoxetine or any other SSRI medication in adolescents with major depression in combination with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this study, the authors investigated whether fluoxetine decreases the depressive symptoms and the drinking of adolescents with comorbid major depression and an AUD. The authors conducted a 12-week open-label study of fluoxetine (20 mg) in 13 adolescents with current comorbid major depression and an AUD. A significant within-group decrease (improvement) was found for both depressive symptoms and drinking during the course of the study. The fluoxetine was well tolerated during the study. These data suggest promise for fluoxetine for decreasing both the depressive symptoms and the drinking of adolescents with comorbid major depression and an AUD.
Cornelius
J R
JR
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA. jcornel@pitt.edu
Bukstein
O G
OG
Birmaher
B
B
Salloum
I M
IM
Lynch
K
K
Pollock
N K
NK
Gershon
S
S
Clark
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors