Duloxetine in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorders: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of duloxetine in the treatment of children and adolescents with somatoform disorder. RESULTS: We describe two cases, those of an 11-year old girl and a 17-year old boy, evaluated in our Department after being studied by a Pediatrician and Neuropediatrician due to complex physical symptoms. The evaluations to rule out medical causes were normal. We diagnosed somatoform disorder. The pharmacological treatments with antidepressants, benzodiazepines, stimulants and mood stabilizers only produced brief and partial improvement. After switching the treatment to duloxetine (30 and 60 mg/day, respectively) both patients experienced a gradual improvement that was maintained at 7 and 14 months. Conclusion. Duloxetine may be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorder. Controlled trials are need.

Duloxetina en el tratamiento de adolescentes con trastornos somatomorfos: un informe de dos casos / Duloxetine in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorders: a report of two cases

Introducción. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la eficacia, seguridad y tolerabilidad de duloxetina en el tratamiento de adolescentes con trastorno somatomorfo. Resultado. Describimos dos casos (chica 11 años y varón 17 años) evaluados en nuestro Departamento después de ser valorados por Pediatra y Neuropediatría por síntomas físicos complejos. Las evaluaciónes para descartar causas médicas fueron normales. Realizamos un diagnóstico de trastorno somatomorfo. El tratamiento farmacológico con antidepresivos, benzodiacepinas, estimulantes y estabilizadores del humor sólo produjouna mejoría breve y parcial. Tras cambiar el tratamiento aduloxetina (30 y 60 mg/día respectivamente) los pacientes experimentaron una mejoría gradual y se mantuvo 7 y 14meses. Conclusión. La duloxetina puede ser eficaz y bien tolerada en adolescentes con trastorno somatomorfo. Son necesarios ensayos controlados (AU)

Background. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of duloxetine in the treatment of children and adolescents with somatoform disorder. Results. We describe two cases, those of an 11-year old girl and a 17-year old boy, evaluated in our Department after being studied by a Pediatrician and Neuropediatrician due to complex physical symptoms. The evaluations to rule out medical causes were normal. We diagnosed somatoform disorder. The pharmacological treatments with antidepressants, benzodiazepines, stimulants and mood stabilizers only produced brief and partial improvement. After switching the treatment to duloxetine (30 and 60 mg/day, respectively) both patients experienced a gradual improvement that was maintained at 7 and 14 months. Conclusion. Duloxetine may be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorder. Controlled trials are need (AU)