Some Teens Fare Better With Therapy vs. Antidepressants
A new government report suggests that therapy--specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy--may benefit some depressed teenagers just as well as antidepressant treatments. And the teenagers that seem to benefit most from this type of treatment plan were from affluent families.
In the detailed study, issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), researchers tested the effectiveness of Prozac vs. cognitive behavioral therapy by testing 439 depressed teenagers.
The study found that teens benefited most from the combination of pills and therapy, but that in a subgroup focus--teens from families that made over $75,000 a year, and were taking the placebo pill, were able to benefit more from just the therapy. No one can say for sure why the affluent teens fared better. Some suggestions were that it was due to the fact that these kids had more education and therefore were more open to cognitive-behavioral therapy or that affluent parents tend to seek treatment quicker for depression.
Whatever the case, the study only suggests this difference and researchers have made it quite clear that a teen with severe depression should be on medication and that all depressed teens should be closely monitored.
There has been a long-running debate in the medical community on whether antidepressants are effective for teenagers and if they cause some children/teens to experience suicidal behavior. This debate has led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require pharmaceutical companies to place black box labels (the strongest warning issued) on antidepressants.
It will be interesting to see how this continued pill vs. therapy debate evolves over the next few years. In the meantime, if you have a child or teen that you suspect may be depressed - act quickly. It's okay to ask for help right away - because a kid with depression can quickly slip into self-imposed isolation, drug or alcohol abuse, or have suicidal ideations. Talk with your doctor so you both can come up with a treatment plan that you are comfortable with.
*sources: FDA & Healthyplace.com
Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and an online advice expert. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Visit her for Advice & Counseling, or take one of the Free Life Assessment, Relationship Ready, or Depression Screenings today.
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