PRACTICE PARAMETERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DEPRESSIVE-DISORDERS

Child and adolescent major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder are common, chronic, familiar, and recurrent conditions that usually p ersist into adulthood. These disorders appear to be manifesting at an earlier age in successive cohorts and are usually accompanied by comor bid psychiatric disorders, increased risk for suicide, substance abuse , and behavior problems. In addition, depressed youth frequently have poor psychosocial, academic, and family functioning, which highlights the importance of early identification and prompt treatment. Both psyc hotherapy and pharmacotherapy have been found to be beneficial for the acute treatment of youth with depressive disorders. Opinions vary reg arding which of these treatments should be offered first and whether t hey should be offered in combination. In general, the choice of initia l therapy depends on clinical and psychosocial factors and therapist's expertise. Based on the current literature and clinical experience, p sychotherapy may be the first treatment for most depressed youth. Howe ver, antidepressants must be considered for those patients with psycho sis, bipolar depression, severe depressions, and those who do not resp ond to an adequate trial of psychotherapy. All patients need continuat ion therapy and some patients may require maintenance treatment. Furth er research is needed on the etiology of depression; the efficacy of d ifferent types of psychotherapy; the differential effects of psychothe rapy, pharmacotherapy, and integrated therapies; the continuation and maintenance treatment phases; treatment for dysthymia, treatment-resis tant depression, and other subtypes of major depressive disorder; and preventive strategies for high-risk children and adolescents.