PubMed · 1982 · 82 citations · 0 references
MedicinePharmacologyPsychiatryChild PsychiatryClinical PharmacologyPsychopharmacologyAntidepressant PharmacologyAntidepressant PharmacotherapyAntidepressant TherapyChild PsychopharmacologyPediatric PsychopharmacologyPsychopharmacology In ChildrenAntidepressant MedicationsAntidepressant ResponseMental Health PharmacotherapyPediatric Antidepressant TherapyPediatric Antidepressant TreatmentPediatric Antidepressant UsePediatric Depression PharmacotherapyTricyclic Antidepressants In Children
The effects of imipramine treatment and plasma drug levels were studied in 20 prepubertal children (16 males, 4 females; age range 7-12 years) hospitalized for major depressive disorder (DSM-III criteria). No change in symptomatology was seen after 2 weeks of individual/group/family psychotherapy, but 12 children experienced a remission within 6 weeks of beginning imipramine. Response to the drug was concentration-dependent; of the children who achieved total tricyclic (imipramine plus desipramine) plasma levels of 125-225 ng/ml, 92% responded, compared with 25% of those outside this range. Antidepressant response was correlated both with total tricyclic plasma levels and with plasma desipramine levels (r = 0.72 and 0.56, respectively), but not with plasma levels of imipramine alone.