Is Prozac (fluoxetine) a good long-term treatment for children and teens grappling with depression to help prevent relapse?

According to a study published in this month’s American Journal of Psychiatry, the answer appears to be, “Yes.”

The researchers examined 168 children and adolescents ages 7 to 18. The study looked at whether or not a person relapsed, and how quickly, as the primary outcome measure.

In the group of kids taking Prozac, 42% relapsed within 6 months after being stabilized on the medication (9 months after starting treatment). In the group of kids taking a placebo, 69% relapsed in the same time period. Prozac is called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI, and is a popularly prescribed antidepressant medication for adults and children.

Using a stricter definition of relapse, the researchers found similar results — 22% relapsed in the Prozac group, compared to 48% in the placebo group.

The researchers also found that the time to relapse was significantly shorter in the placebo group.

The upshot? If a teen or child is taking Prozac for depression and sees good results from it, they should probably maintain on it for as long as the doctor suggests, to minimize the risk of relapse. It’s not clear from this study if these results would generalize to other types of similar SSRI antidepressant medications.

Reference:

Emslie, G.J. et. al. (2008). Fluoxetine Versus Placebo in Preventing Relapse of Major Depression in Children and Adolescents. Am J Psychiatry 2008; 165:459-467

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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