title: Effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for depression in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the evidence for the effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for depression in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library for 131 treatments up to February 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 13 treatments that had been evaluated in intervention studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies on each treatment were reviewed by one author and checked by a second. A consensus was reached for level of evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relevant evidence was available for glutamine, S-adenosylmethionine, St John's wort, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, light therapy, massage, art therapy, bibliotherapy, distraction techniques, exercise, relaxation therapy and sleep deprivation. However, the evidence was limited and generally of poor quality. The only treatment with reasonable supporting evidence was light therapy for winter depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that antidepressant medication is not recommended as a first line treatment for children and adolescents with mild to moderate depression, and that the effects of psychological treatments are modest, there is a pressing need to extend the range of treatments available for this age group.
authors.affiliation: ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ajorm@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Colin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Parslow
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001155:Art Therapy; D001638:Bibliotherapy; D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D010789:Phototherapy; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012648:Self Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3