Adolescent depression is a belongi...

Adolescent depression is a belonging to all mental health issue in the United States. If left untreated, it can lead to indoctrinate dropout, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and substance abuse. In addition, depression increases health care expenses in this age group. Unfortunately, a significant number of adolescents who ne mental health treatment receive none. Because of the large gap between the ne for mental health services and use of these services, various school-based programs have been make knowned as treatment options. Effective treatments for depression in this age cluster include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and cluster therapy. Most studies of these therapies have been done in medical center subject to controlled conditions. Mufson and associates evaluated the impact of interpersonal psychotherapy modified for droped adolescents in school-based health clinics.

The trial was a randomized investigation of adolescents who were referr to school-based mental health clinicians. Those who participated were randomly assigned to receive interpersonal psychotherapy or usual care. The interpersonal psychotherapy was done in 12 sessions from one side of to the other 12 to 16 weeks and focused onward the current problems of the adolescent. It was performed at a mental health worker who had specific training in this form of psychotherapy. The adolescents in the usual-care cluster were treated by a mental health worker who had not received special training in interpersonal psychotherapy. To participate, the adolescents had to have scores of 10 or higher in succession the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and a score of 65 or lower upon the Children's Global Assessment Scale. They also had to befitting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed criteria for major depression, dysthymia, adjustment disorder with lowered mood, or depressive disorder not otherwise specified. The participants were evaluated at baseline and weeks 4 8 12 and 16 of the studious mood The evaluation included multiple scales for depression and global and social functioning. These assessments were performed on persons who were blinded to the participant's treatment assignment.

Thirty-four adolescents participated in the interpersonal psychotherapy cluster and 29 received usual care. The interpersonal psychotherapy form into groups had fewer clinician-reported depression symptoms forward the Hamilton Depression Scale compared with the usual-care dispose At weeks 8 and 12 a significant difference was noted in depression scale scores between the treatment assemblages although this difference was not not away at week 4. In addition, adolescents who received interpersonal psychotherapy had significantly better global and social functioning compared with the usual-care clump The interpersonal therapy group had a significantly greater clinical improvement and greater reduction in clinical symptom severity.

The authors close that interpersonal psychotherapy delivered on school-based health clinics can effectively treat adolescent depression. They add that this program is a viable and effective original for organizing treatment delivery in the adolescent population and in a school-based setting.

Mufson L et al. A randomized effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for abashed adolescents. Arch Gen Psychiatry June 2004;61:577-84

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