ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Atypical (second-generation) antipsychotics are considered standard treatment for children and adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. However, the superiority of second-generation antipsychotics over first-generation antipsychotics has not been demonstrated. This study compared the efficacy and safety of two second-generation antipsychotics (olanzapine and risperidone) with a first-generation antipsychotic (molindone) in the treatment of early-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. METHOD: This double-blind multisite trial randomly assigned pediatric patients with early-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder to treatment with either olanzapine (2.5-20 mg/day), risperidone (0.5-6 mg/day), or molindone (10-140 mg/day, plus 1 mg/day of benztropine) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was response to treatment, defined as a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement score of 1 or 2 and >or=20% reduction in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score after 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: In total, 119 youth were randomly assigned to treatment. Of these subjects, 116 received at least one dose of treatment and thus were available for analysis. No significant differences were found among treatment groups in response rates (molindone: 50%; olanzapine: 34%; risperidone: 46%) or magnitude of symptom reduction. Olanzapine and risperidone were associated with significantly greater weight gain. Olanzapine showed the greatest risk of weight gain and significant increases in fasting cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, insulin, and liver transaminase levels. Molindone led to more self-reports of akathisia. CONCLUSIONS: Risperidone and olanzapine did not demonstrate superior efficacy over molindone for treating early-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Adverse effects were frequent but differed among medications. The results question the nearly exclusive use of second-generation antipsychotics to treat early-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The safety findings related to weight gain and metabolic problems raise important public health concerns, given the widespread use of second-generation antipsychotics in youth for nonpsychotic disorders.
Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use , Molindone/therapeutic use , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Risperidone/therapeutic use , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adolescent , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Benzodiazepines/adverse effects , Child , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Molindone/adverse effects , Olanzapine , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Risperidone/adverse effects , Schizophrenia/diagnosisABSTRACT
Numerous somatic interventions have been studied as potential treatments of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. These include antidepressant medications, light therapy, electro-convulsive therapy, and alternative therapies. The available evidence suggests that several somatic interventions hold promise as potentially safe and effective treatments for depressed youths; however, there is still much to be learned about these interventions. This article reviews what is known and what needs to be learned about the somatic treatment of pediatric depression.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/classification , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depression/therapy , Electroconvulsive Therapy/methods , Phototherapy/methods , Adolescent , Child , Depression/drug therapy , HumansABSTRACT
Numerous somatic interventions have been studied as potential treatments of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. These include antidepressant medications, light therapy, electro-convulsive therapy, and alternative therapies. The available evidence suggests that several somatic interventions hold promise as potentially safe and effective treatments for depressed youth; however, there is still much to be learned about these interventions. This article reviews what is known and what needs to be learned about the somatic treatment of pediatric depression.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/therapy , Psychiatric Somatic Therapies/methods , Adolescent , Antidepressive Agents/classification , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Child , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Electroconvulsive Therapy/methods , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The General Behavior Inventory (GBI) is a questionnaire that has utility in the assessment of mood disorders in adults. The purpose of this study was to examine how the GBI might optimally be used in the assessment of youths. METHOD: Children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 years participated in this study. All youths were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS). Based on the K-SADS results, subjects were then assigned to one of four groups: a bipolar spectrum group, a depressive disorders group, a disruptive behaviors disorders group, and a no diagnosis group. Guardians completed a version of the GBI modified for parent reporting. Patients 10 years old or greater also completed the GBI as a self-report measure. RESULTS: There were 196 subjects who participated. Both parent report and youth self-report assigned patients to the appropriate diagnostic group with better than 74% accuracy. Combining information from multiple informants did not significantly improve diagnostic group assignment. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the GBI may be a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of mood disorders in youths, particularly when diagnostic specificity is more important than sensitivity.
