Major depressive disorder (MDD) has a prevalence of approximately 9% among 12 to 17 year olds, and is associated with significant comorbidities including suicidality, long-term disease persistence, and adult psychosocial impairment.¹ Standard therapy for MDD in adolescents has included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Adult data suggested that combination therapy led to greater symptom improvement over monotherapy; however, no such studies existed among the adolescent population.

To compare the effectiveness of placebo vs. SSRI therapy and CBT both alone and in combination for treatment of adolescent depression.

Randomized controlled trial at 13 US clinics from 2000 to 2003.