Adolescents' response to antidepressant treatment in a community mental health center.
This study examines antidepressant response in 52 adolescents after 6 months of treatment in a community mental health clinic. No patients were excluded based on psychiatric or medical co-morbidity. Symptomatic and functional outcome measures were administered to patients and parents. A pharmacotherapy algorithm was followed. Thirty-four patients (65%) completed the 6 month of treatment. Eighty-eight percent of patients improved, while 47% responded. These results are compared to response rates in acute research studies, in continuation studies, and in a study of depressed adults treated in a community clinic.


CONCLUSIONS
Research to improve response rates to antidepressants in the real world is urgently needed, since it appears that rates are low and diminish with age.
Bastiaens
Leo
L
University of Pittsburgh, PA 15228, USA. BastiaensL@aol.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D000465:Algorithms; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride