Study shows decrease in suicidal thoughts from combined therapy.
A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) concludes that Prozac is more effective in treating depression in teenagers than so-called talk therapy, but the two combined show the best treatment results. The NIMH has been conducting research to help clarify the potential value and risks of antidepressants and to explore how drug therapy compares with psychotherapy in adolescent depression. The multisite controlled clinical trial — the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) — was launched in the late 1990s to directly compare the efficacy of fluoxetine, cognitive behavior therapy, and a combination of the two. The findings come amid controversy over the use of antidepressants in children and the possible link between antidepressants and the risk of suicide in children and teenagers. In this study of 439 adolescents suffering from moderate to severe depression, 71% responded well to the combined treatment. The researchers also found a dramatic decrease in the amount of suicidal thinking, although five suicide attempts were made by those given fluoxetine alone.