Factors Associated With the Response to Fluoxetine Treatment in Child and Adolescent Patients with Major Depressive Disorder; A Naturalistic Study

Jung, Young Eun; Moon, Hyun Jin; Seo, Ho Jun; Bahk, Won Myong; Jun, Tae Youn; Chae, Jeong Ho

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the overall efficacy of fluoxetine and explored factors associated with the response to fluoxetine treatment in child and adolescent outpatients with major depression.
METHODS
Child and adolescent outpatients with major depressive disorder who had been treated with fluoxetine for at least eight weeks were selected for a retrospective study. The medical records of the subjects (N=82) were reviewed to determine the details of clinical variables and the efficacy and pharmacological variables of fluoxetine. At eight weeks, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were used to divide the subjects into two groups, i.e., clinical responders and non-responders, and the two groups were compared.
RESULTS
Of the 82 patients, 64% (N=53) responded to fluoxetine treatment. Responders tended to be younger during the treatment period and tended to have had a shorter duration of depressive episodes prior to starting treatment, a lower family loading for depressive illness, and less difficulty in school than non-responders. Other variables did not differ significantly between responders and non-responders.
CONCLUSION
Fluoxetine is effective for the treatment of depressed children and adolescents. Younger age, shorter duration of depressive episodes prior to starting treatment, lower family loading for depressive illness, and less difficulty in school were good predictors of the response to fluoxetine treatment.