SUMMARY
Background: Depressive disorders are among the more
common mental illnesses around the world. About 3% of
prepubertal children and 6% of postpubertal children and
adolescents are affected. Many physicians are unsure
about which treatment approaches are effective and how
the treatment should be planned.
Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out in
electronic databases and study registries and as a manual
search. More than 450 studies (mostly randomized
controlled trials [RCTs]) were identified and summarized in
five evidence tables. The ensuing recommendations were
agreed upon in a consensus conference in which 23
organizations were represented.
Results: The recommended treatment of first choice for
children from age 8 onward and for adolescents is either
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (Cohen’s d [effect
strength]: 0.5–2) or interpersonal psychotherapy (Cohen’s
d: 0.5–0.6). Fluoxetine is recommended for drug treatment
(Cohen’s d: 0.3–5.6), either alone or in combination with
CBT. The analysis revealed a lower level of evidence for
psychodynamic or systemic psychotherapy or for drug
treatment with escitalopram, citalopram, or sertraline. For
mild or moderate depression, psychotherapy is recommended;
for severe depression, combination therapy.
Particularly for children, there is a lack of adequately
informative comparative studies on these treatment
approaches as well as on other, complementary interventions
(e.g., art therapy, sleep deprivation, youth welfare
services).
Conclusion: There is adequate evidence to support some
recommendations for the treatment of depressive disorders
in adolescents, but evidence for children is lacking.
There is a pressing need for intervention research in this
area for both children and adolescents.
►Cite this as:
Dolle K, Schulte-Körne G: Clinical practice guideline: The
treatment of depressive disorders in children and
adolescents. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2013; 110(50): 854–60.
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2013.0854
Depressive disorders are among the more common
mental illnesses all over the world, with an
estimated 121 million sufferers, according to the World
Health Organization (WHO). Depressive disorders are
currently the single most important cause of “years lost
due to disability” (YLD—a statistical measure of years
lived with a disability, multiplied by the severity of the
disability). It is projected that, by the year 2020, depressive
disorders will also become the second most
important cause of loss of “disability-adjusted life
years” (DALY) (WHO, 2012) (1).
Depressive disorders can arise early in life: some
3% of prepubertal children and 6% of postpubertal
children and adolescents are affected (e1). These disorders
manifest themselves in episodes of varying
duration and are often chronic. They markedly impair
psychosocial development. An adolescent who
has had one episode has a 50% to 70% chance of
having a second one within five years (e2).
Not all of the affected children and adolescents
receive optimal treatment (2). For many of the
currently available treatment options, evidence of
efficacy is lacking. Recommendations about the
treatment of depressive disorders in adults (e3) do
not necessarily apply to younger patients, as both the
manifestations of disease and the appropriateness
and efficacy of various forms of treatment depend on
the patient’s age and level of development.
In 2010, the German Society for Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy
(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und
Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie,
DGKJP) initiated a project to develop a
new evidence- and consensus-based S3 guideline for
the treatment of depressive disorders (ICD-10 codes
F32, F33, F34.1 and F92.0) in children and adolescents
(ages 3–18), so that more of these younger patients
can receive optimal treatment. The guideline
contains information on the current state of scientific
knowledge about treatment and gives recommendations
for the selection and planning of effective
treatment strategies (3).
Methods
A systematic search for existing guidelines (Figure
1) yielded three of these (4–7). In addition, searches
for relevant publications that appeared from July
2011 to July 2012 were carried out in each of four
databases, in clinical trial registries, and (by manual
search) in scholarly periodicals and congress
proceedings. Modular search filters were used (for
an example, cf. eBox 1). Two independent judges selected
and evaluated the studies; when their opinions
diverged, they reconsidered and discussed the study
in question until they reached agreement. Inclusion
and exclusion criteria are listed in the Box.
All systematic reviews and controlled trials were
evaluated by the two judges with the aid of the structured
checklists of the Scottish Intercollegiate
Guidelines Network (SIGN, available at www.sign.
ac.uk/methodology/checklists.html). They were then
thematically grouped and summarized in five
evidence tables and assigned levels of evidence. The
evidence tables and the previously published guidelines
were used to develop recommendations for key
clinical questions; each recommendation was stated
together with a recommendation grade. Evidence
levels and recommendation grades were assigned
according to the scheme of the Oxford Centre for
Evidence-Based Medicine (8) (eTable).
In a consensus conference moderated by the Association
of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany
(Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen
Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften, AWMF), every
recommendation was discussed in a “nominal group
process” and then voted on. Each of the 23 participating
organizations (eBox 2) had one vote. Each
recommendation was issued with a “strong consensus”
(>95% agreement), by “consensus” (>75–95%
agreement), or by “majority agreement” (>50–75%
agreement).
Results and recommendations
Treatment setting
The first necessary step in the treatment of depres -
sive disorders is thorough diagnostic evaluation and
classification according to the ICD-10 criteria. The
ICD-10 distinguishes three degrees of severity of
depressive episodes: mild, moderate, and severe
(Figure 2). A mild depressive disorder without
comorbidity, significant risk factors, a family history
of affective disorders, or warning signs of a likely
relapse can be initially managed with watchful waiting
for six to eight weeks. This includes support in
coping with everyday tasks and counseling or
psychoeducation about the manifestations of the
disorder, its causes, the expected course, and the
options for treatment.
Follow-up evaluations should be performed every
two weeks. This recommendation also applies to
children and adolescents who refuse treatment, as
well as to those who are fully able to cope with the
demands of everyday life as appropriate for their age
group (clinical consensus point [CCP], recommendation
issued by consensus).
As a rule, children and adolescents with depressive
disorders are treated in the outpatient setting. Aprerequisite for outpatient treatment is an appropriate
level of psychosocial function (axis VI of the
Multi-Axial System [MAS]) (9) (CCP, strong
consensus). This means, among other things, that the
patient must be able to maintain contact with other
persons and cope with everyday tasks, such as regular
school attendance. On the other hand, reasons for
hospitalization include the following:
● acute suicidality, together with the inability to
adhere to a non-suicide agreement (i.e., the
patient cannot be counted on to seek help if
suicidal thoughts arise);
● a depressive disorder that is so severe that the
patient cannot (for example) attend school any
more;
● inability to cope with everyday tasks, such as
eating and drinking regularly or maintaining a
normally structured timetable (getting up in the
morning, going to bed at an appropriate time).
These criteria are represented in summary fashion
on Axes IV and V of the MAS (9) (CCP, strong consensus).
Day hospital care should be considered and,
in some cases, recommended in the light of the severity
of the episode, the patient’s familial and social
resources, and the local conditions of care (CCP,
strong consensus).
Search hits from the
Cochrane Library, Medline,
Embase, and PsycINFO
databases (9771 hits)
Additional hits from
registries and
hand searches
(479 hits)
Hits after removal of duplicates
(9331 hits)
Screening of hits
(9331 hits)
Exclusion by title
(8281 excluded)
Evaluation of full text
(1050 hits)
Exclusion after evaluation
of text (e.g., no children
or adolescents with
depressive disorders
studied, results
reported elsewhere, etc.)
Evaluation of studies (582 excluded)
with checklists and
summarization in
5 evidence tables
(468 hits)
Inclusion Selection Screening Identification
FIGURE 1
Results of the systematic literature search and evaluation
Deutsches