BACKGROUND: Although considered clinically effective, there is little systematic research confirming the use of Individual Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or Family Therapy as treatments for depression in children and young adolescents. AIMS: A clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of these two forms of psychotherapy in treating moderate and severe depression in this age group. METHODS: A randomised control trial was conducted with 72 patients aged 9-15 years allocated to one of two treatment groups. RESULTS: Significant reductions in disorder rates were seen for both Individual Therapy and Family Therapy. A total of 74.3% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Individual Therapy and 75.7% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Family Therapy. This included cases of Dysthymia and "Double Depression" (co-existing Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia). There was also an overall reduction in co-morbid conditions across the study. The changes in both treatment groups were persistent and there was ongoing improvement. At follow up six months after treatment had ended, 100% of cases in the Individual Therapy group, and 81% of cases in the Family Therapy group were no longer clinically depressed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the use of focused forms of both Individual Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Therapy for moderate to severe depression in children and young adolescents.
BACKGROUND: Although considered clinically effective, there is little systematic research confirming the use of Individual Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or Family Therapy as treatments for depression in children and young adolescents. AIMS: A clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of these two forms of psychotherapy in treating moderate and severe depression in this age group. METHODS: A randomised control trial was conducted with 72 patients aged 9-15 years allocated to one of two treatment groups. RESULTS: Significant reductions in disorder rates were seen for both Individual Therapy and Family Therapy. A total of 74.3% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Individual Therapy and 75.7% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Family Therapy. This included cases of Dysthymia and "Double Depression" (co-existing Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia). There was also an overall reduction in co-morbid conditions across the study. The changes in both treatment groups were persistent and there was ongoing improvement. At follow up six months after treatment had ended, 100% of cases in the Individual Therapy group, and 81% of cases in the Family Therapy group were no longer clinically depressed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the use of focused forms of both Individual Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Therapy for moderate to severe depression in children and young adolescents.
Authors: John March; Susan Silva; Stephen Petrycki; John Curry; Karen Wells; John Fairbank; Barbara Burns; Marisa Domino; Steven McNulty; Benedetto Vitiello; Joanne Severe Journal: JAMA Date: 2004-08-18 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: I Elkin; M T Shea; J T Watkins; S D Imber; S M Sotsky; J F Collins; D R Glass; P A Pilkonis; W R Leber; J P Docherty Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 1989-11
Authors: Xinyu Zhou; Sarah E Hetrick; Pim Cuijpers; Bin Qin; Jürgen Barth; Craig J Whittington; David Cohen; Cinzia Del Giovane; Yiyun Liu; Kurt D Michael; Yuqing Zhang; John R Weisz; Peng Xie Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: Jennifer B Dwyer; Argyris Stringaris; David A Brent; Michael H Bloch Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-04 Impact factor: 8.982