A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in depressed adolescent alcoholics: A pilot study

In order to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline, in the treatment of adolesce nts with a primary depressive disorder and a comorbid alcohol use disorder, a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline plus cognit ive behavior group therapy was conducted. Subjects were 10 outpatient treat ment-seeking adolescents. Baseline assessment included the K-SADS, HAM-D, S CID, and the Time-Line Follow-Back. The HAM-D and the Time-Line Follow-Back were performed weekly thereafter. Both groups showed a significant reducti on in depression scores with an average reduction between baseline and endp oint HAM-D score of -9.8 (F(1,8) = 26.14, p less than or equal to 0.001), a lthough there were no significant group differences. There was an overall r eduction in Percent Days Drinking (PDD); (F(1,8)= 8.90, p < 0.02) and in Dr inks Per Drinking Day (DDD); (F(1,8) = 20.48, p < 0.002), however, then wer e no group differences. Depression responders tended to have higher baselin e PDD than non-responders (F(1,8) = 3.9, p = 0.08) and change in HAM-D scor es tended to correlate with change in PDD (r = 0.57, p = 0.09). Our data su pport that sertraline is safe and well tolerated in the treatment of adoles cents with depression and alcohol dependence. Small sample size and cogniti ve behavior group therapy given to all subjects may limit the lack of group differences. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.