Evidence clearly indicates that antidepressant medication is less effective in children and adolescents up to the age of 17 years and first-line treatment for this group should include cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy. Attention should always be focused on children’s and teens’ environmental safety and adequate parental support to avoid missing cases of neglect or abuse. Following this, a first-line intervention should be psychoeducation on the importance of regular sleep, diet and exercise to ensure healthy, age-appropriate developmental support.
Sources:
Bhatia SK et al. Childhood and Adolescent depression. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jan 1;75(1):73-80. PMID: 17225707.
Birmaher B, et al. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorders. J Am Acad Child Adoles Psychiatry. 2007 Nov;46(11):1503-26. PMID: 18049300.
Hetrick SE, et al. Newer generation antidepressants for depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Nov 14;11:CD004851. PMID: 23152227.
Zuckerbrot RA, et al. Guidelines for adolescent depression in primary care (GLAD-PC): 1. Identification, assessment, and initial management. Pediatrics. 2007 Nov;120(5): e1299-1312. PMID: 17974723.