Functioning and Quality of Life in the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS)

• NCJ Number: 216592
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 1419-1426
• Author(s): Benedetto Vitiello M.D.; Paul Rohde Ph.D.; Susan Silva Ph.D.; Karen Wells Ph.D.; Charles Casat M.D.; Bruce Waslick M.D.; Anne Simons Ph.D.; Mark Reinecke Ph.D.; Elizabeth Weller M.D.; Christopher Kratochvil M.D.; John Walkup M.D.; Sanjeev Pathak M.D.; Michele Robins Ph.D.; John March M.D.
• Date Published: December 2006
• Length: 8 pages
• Contract Number(s): RFP-NIH-NIMH 98-DS-0008
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Corporate Author: The TADS Team
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For other articles in this series, see NCJ-216589-91 and NCJ-216593-95.

Annotation

This study tested whether 12 weeks of treatment for adolescents (ages 12-17) with major depressive disorder (MDD) enrolled in the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) improved their level of functioning, global health, and quality of life; TADS randomly assigned 439 adolescents with MDD to treatment with either fluoxetine (FLX), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), their combination (COMB), or clinical management with placebo (PBO).

Abstract

COMB was effective in improving functioning, global health, and quality of life in adolescents with MDD. FLX alone improved functioning. CBT alone was not statistically different in effect from the placebo on any of the measures. Most patients, however, regardless of treatment condition, continued to show signs of significant functional impairment after 12 weeks of treatment. This indicates the need for either longer or more intensive treatment that targets the various impairments associated with major depression in adolescence. Treatment effects were mediated by improvement in depressive symptoms measured on the Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised. Functioning was measured with the Children's Global Assessment Scale, and global health was measured with the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents. Quality of life was assessed with the Pediatric Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Random-effects regression models were applied to the data. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 27 references