Predicting Remission in Depressed Children Treated with Fluoxetine

A reduction in symptoms of 50% or more after 4 weeks of treatment predicts remission at 12 weeks.

Fluoxetine is the only antidepressant that has been evaluated for treatment of pediatric depression in more than one randomized controlled trial, and it often is the initial medication selected for treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. Current guidelines suggest a change of medication at 6 to 8 weeks when patients have an insufficient response. To identify early predictors of remission or treatment response in children and adolescents with primary diagnoses of major depression, researchers treated 168 depressed youths (age range, 7–18 years) with fluoxetine for 12 weeks in an open-label study. Standardized scales were used for diagnosis and measurement of outcomes.

In regression analysis of baseline demographic and clini…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics