About 40 percent of teenagers with depression do not initially respond to a drug regimen of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Common drugs in this class of anti-depressants include Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

Researchers led by UCLA Professor Joan Asarow studied 334 depressed teenagers who did not improve with SSRI therapy. These teens were divided into four groups

• One group switched to different forms of SSRIs.
• The second group took Venlafaxine, an anti-depressant in a different family of drugs.
• The third group took SSRIs plus cognitive behavior therapy.
• The fourth group took Venlafaxine plus cognitive behavior therapy.

The members of the third and fourth groups showed the most improvement. Many of them had coexisting disorders such as anxiety or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder along with depression. The combination of drugs and therapy did not help many teens with high levels of hopelessness or histories of abuse.

This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Labels: depression, medications, therapy

Posted By: Aspen Education Group