Which drugs are most effective for moderate to severe depression in adolescents?

Abstract

Fluoxetine is the only selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression in children 8 years of age and older; it also has the most favorable benefit-to-risk profile compared with placebo in trials lasting up to 12 weeks (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, meta-analysis). Fluoxetine combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is superior to fluoxetine alone, CBT alone, or placebo (SOR: B, single well-done randomized controlled trial [RCT]). Further research is needed to address the long-term efficacy of fluoxetine treatment.