Impact of comorbid anxiety in an effectiveness study of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To assess the impact of comorbid anxiety on treatment for adolescent depression in an effectiveness study of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A).

METHOD:
A randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 1, 1999, through July 31, 2002. Sixty-three depressed adolescents, ages 12 to 18, received either IPT-A or treatment as usual delivered by school-based mental health clinicians. Adolescents with and without probable comorbid anxiety disorders were compared on depression and overall functioning. All analyses used an intent-to-treat design.

RESULTS:
Comorbid anxiety was associated with higher depression scores at baseline (p <.01) and poorer depression outcome posttreatment (p <.05). IPT-A was nonsignificantly more effective in treating the depression of adolescents with comorbid anxiety (p =.07). Adolescents whose depression and functioning improved during the course of treatment also showed an improvement in anxiety (p <.01), largely irrespective of treatment condition.

CONCLUSIONS:
Adolescents with comorbid depression and anxiety present with more severe depression and may be more difficult to treat. Structured treatments like IPT-A may be particularly helpful for comorbidly depressed adolescents as compared to supportive therapy.

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Author information

Author/s: Young, Jami F (JF); Mufson, Laura (L); Davies, Mark (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032, USA. youngj(-atsign-)childpsych.columbia.edu

Grants: 5 P30 MH60570-03 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; 6 HS5 SM52671-02-1 (Agency:AHRQ HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 45 (issue 8) : pp 904-12

Dates: Created 2006/07/25; Completed 2006/09/08; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16865032, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; therapy
Child
Comorbidity
Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; epidemiology; therapy
Female

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