Psychopharmacologic treatment of adolescent depression

Child and adolescent depression is one of the greatest health concerns in o ur society today. This article critically reviews the literature on the psy chopharmacologic treatment of adolescent depression. Although double-blind studies have failed to show the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants, more recent evidence has emerged for the use of selective serotonin reuptake in hibitors in this population. However, placebo-controlled, double-blind stud ies are limited, and many of the other newer antidepressants have yet to be investigated in treating adolescent depression. Nonetheless, antidepressan ts are widely prescribed to these populations, and psychiatric nurses are a ctively involved in assessing and monitoring the need for these medications in adolescents. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.