Depressive disorder in pre-adolescence: comorbidity or different clinical subtypes? (A pharmacological contribution).

The study consisted of evaluating 80 out-patients for DSM-IV diagnoses and giving 75 mg trazodone for four months to children aged 9-13 who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (n = 22); Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (n = 24), Major Depressive Disorder and Learning Disorder NOS (n = 24); Major Depressive Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (n = 10). They were followed up weekly by a psychiatrist blind to the original evaluations and to the precise purpose of the study. Trazodone emerges as safe and effective for over 50% of the sample. Those with depression alone and with LD NOS did particularly well, and those with ODD did particularly badly. The presence of psychopathology in the parents was associated with poorer response to trazodone, and life events were also associated with a poor response.