OBJECTIVE: Depressive and anxiety disorders are common in youth who are at risk for bipolar disorder (i.e., youth who have at least one parent with bipolar disorder) and antidepressants are commonly prescribed as treatment. However, there are few data regarding the safety and tolerability of antidepressants in this population. Therefore, we sought to prospectively examine the effects of these medications in children and adolescents who are diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders and have a parent with bipolar I disorder. METHODS: Youth aged 9-20 years, with at least one parent with bipolar I disorder [high risk (HR)], were recruited (n = 118) and assessed using semi-structured diagnostic interviews. Participants were prospectively evaluated using a modified version of the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation to assess changes in affective and anxiety symptoms and were treated naturalistically. RESULTS: Over the course of 43-227 weeks (mean duration of follow-up: 106 ± 55 weeks), 21% (n = 25) of youth had antidepressant exposure and, of these, 57% (n = 12) had an adverse reaction (e.g., irritability, aggression, impulsivity, or hyperactivity) that led to antidepressant discontinuation. Those patients who experienced an adverse reaction were significantly younger than those who did not (p = 0.02) and discontinuation of antidepressant therapy secondary to an adverse event occurred at an average of 16.7 ± 17.4 weeks (median: 11 weeks, range: 2-57 weeks). Cox proportional hazard analyses yielded a hazard ratio of 0.725 (p = 0.03), suggesting that there is a 27% decrease in the likelihood of an antidepressant-related adverse event leading to discontinuation with each one-year increase in age. CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressant medications may be poorly tolerated in youth with a familial risk for developing mania. Controlled studies further assessing treatments for depression and anxiety in HR youth are urgently needed.
OBJECTIVE: Depressive and anxiety disorders are common in youth who are at risk for bipolar disorder (i.e., youth who have at least one parent with bipolar disorder) and antidepressants are commonly prescribed as treatment. However, there are few data regarding the safety and tolerability of antidepressants in this population. Therefore, we sought to prospectively examine the effects of these medications in children and adolescents who are diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders and have a parent with bipolar I disorder. METHODS: Youth aged 9-20 years, with at least one parent with bipolar I disorder [high risk (HR)], were recruited (n = 118) and assessed using semi-structured diagnostic interviews. Participants were prospectively evaluated using a modified version of the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation to assess changes in affective and anxiety symptoms and were treated naturalistically. RESULTS: Over the course of 43-227 weeks (mean duration of follow-up: 106 ± 55 weeks), 21% (n = 25) of youth had antidepressant exposure and, of these, 57% (n = 12) had an adverse reaction (e.g., irritability, aggression, impulsivity, or hyperactivity) that led to antidepressant discontinuation. Those patients who experienced an adverse reaction were significantly younger than those who did not (p = 0.02) and discontinuation of antidepressant therapy secondary to an adverse event occurred at an average of 16.7 ± 17.4 weeks (median: 11 weeks, range: 2-57 weeks). Cox proportional hazard analyses yielded a hazard ratio of 0.725 (p = 0.03), suggesting that there is a 27% decrease in the likelihood of an antidepressant-related adverse event leading to discontinuation with each one-year increase in age. CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressant medications may be poorly tolerated in youth with a familial risk for developing mania. Controlled studies further assessing treatments for depression and anxiety in HR youth are urgently needed.
Authors: Jeffrey R Strawn; Anna M Wehry; Melissa P DelBello; Moira A Rynn; Stephen Strakowski Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: R L Findling; M D Reed; C Myers; M A O'Riordan; S Fiala; L Branicky; B Waldorf; J L Blumer Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1999-08 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Andrés Martin; Christopher Young; James F Leckman; Chengeto Mukonoweshuro; Robert Rosenheck; Douglas Leslie Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2004-08
Authors: Melissa P DelBello; Caleb M Adler; Rachel M Whitsel; Kevin E Stanford; Stephen M Strakowski Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Sian Cotton; Kristen M Kraemer; Richard W Sears; Jeffrey R Strawn; Rachel S Wasson; Nina McCune; Jeffrey Welge; Thomas J Blom; Michelle Durling; Melissa P Delbello Journal: Early Interv Psychiatry Date: 2019-07-02 Impact factor: 2.732
Authors: Robert K McNamara; Jeffrey R Strawn; Max J Tallman; Jeffrey A Welge; L Rodrigo Patino; Thomas J Blom; Melissa P DelBello Journal: J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol Date: 2020-03-11 Impact factor: 2.576
Authors: Jeffrey R Strawn; Sian Cotton; Christina M Luberto; L Rodrigo Patino; Lauren A Stahl; Wade A Weber; James C Eliassen; Richard Sears; Melissa P DelBello Journal: J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 2.576
Authors: Jessica A Able; Yanhong Liu; Ronald Jandacek; Therese Rider; Patrick Tso; Robert K McNamara Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2013-12-06 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Jay A Salpekar; Paramjit T Joshi; David A Axelson; Shauna P Reinblatt; Gayane Yenokyan; Abanti Sanyal; John T Walkup; Benedetto Vitiello; Joan L Luby; Karen Dineen Wagner; Nasima Nusrat; Mark A Riddle Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2015-10-08 Impact factor: 8.829