The Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) Long-term Effectiveness and Safety Outcomes Context: The Treatment for Adolescents With Depres-
cal Global Impressions–Improvement score of much or very
sion Study evaluates the effectiveness of fluoxetine hy-
drochloride therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT),and their combination in adolescents with major depres-
Results: Intention-to-treat analyses on the Children’s De-
pression Rating Scale–Revised identified a significanttime ϫ treatment interaction (P Ͻ .001). Rates of re-
Objective: To report effectiveness outcomes across 36
sponse were 73% for combination therapy, 62% for fluox-
etine therapy, and 48% for CBT at week 12; 85% for com-bination therapy, 69% for fluoxetine therapy, and 65%
Design and Setting: Randomized, controlled trial con-
for CBT at week 18; and 86% for combination therapy,
ducted in 13 academic and community sites in the United
81% for fluoxetine therapy, and 81% for CBT at week 36.
States. Cognitive behavior and combination therapies were
Suicidal ideation decreased with treatment, but less so
not masked, whereas administration of placebo and fluox-
with fluoxetine therapy than with combination therapy
etine was double-blind through 12 weeks, after which
or CBT. Suicidal events were more common in patients
treatments were unblinded. Patients assigned to pla-
receiving fluoxetine therapy (14.7%) than combination
cebo were treated openly after week 12, and the placebo
group is not included in these analyses by design. Conclusions: In adolescents with moderate to severe de- Participants: Three hundred twenty-seven patients aged
pression, treatment with fluoxetine alone or in combi-
12 to 17 years with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of ma-
nation with CBT accelerates the response. Adding CBT
to medication enhances the safety of medication. Tak-ing benefits and harms into account, combined treat-
Interventions: All treatments were administered per
ment appears superior to either monotherapy as a treat-
ment for major depression in adolescents. Main Outcome Measures: The primary dependent mea- Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:
sures rated blind to treatment status by an independent
evaluator were the Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised total score and the response rate, defined as a Clini-
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(10):1132-1144MAJORDEPRESSIVEDISOR- weeks)effectivenessofthefollowing3ac-
tive treatments for adolescents with MDD:
cant morbidity and family burden1,2 as well
etine therapy plus CBT) and, in the short
cide.3,4 Hence, improvements in the treat-
significant public health value. To this end,
described the study aims, rationale, and de-
sign5; the sample characteristics6; and the
Author Affiliations: The TADS Team authors and their
trolled trial that is intended to evaluate the
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
nitive behavior therapy alone was less effective than com-
responders at the end of stage 1 were treated openly by the TADS
bination therapy or fluoxetine therapy alone and was not
team; placebo responders were offered telephone follow-up and,
significantly more effective than placebo.
if they relapsed, their choice of open fluoxetine therapy, CBT,
Almost 30% of the TADS participants exhibited clini-
or combination therapy. Results past 12 weeks for placebo-
cally significant suicidal ideation at baseline, with 2% re-
treated patients will be reported separately.
Medication management in fluoxetine therapy and combi-
porting high-intensity suicidal ideation. Suicidal ide-
nation therapy included monitoring patient status and medi-
ation decreased significantly during 12 weeks in all
cation effects during 20- to 30-minute visits across 36 weeks
treatment groups and showed the greatest improve-
of treatment and general encouragement about the effective-
ment with the combination of fluoxetine therapy and CBT.
ness of pharmacotherapy for MDD. Dosages of fluoxetine hy-
Consistent with recent findings showing a slightly el-
drochloride began at 10 mg/d, and were increased if necessary
evated risk of treatment-emergent suicidality in pa-
to 40 mg/d at week 6. At the week 12 visit, the dosage was in-
tients receiving antidepressants,8 harm-related events were
creased to a maximum of 60 mg/d in partial responders. In stages
more common in patients receiving fluoxetine.7 In a sec-
2 and 3, the dosage of fluoxetine was held constant unless ad-
ondary analysis that used the Columbia coding scheme
verse events required a reduction, and the visit schedule was
for suicidal events,9 24 suicidal events occurred during
switched to maintenance visits every 6 weeks after week 18.
the 12-week short-term treatment period, including 5 of
Cognitive behavior therapy in the TADS included fifteen 1-hoursessions during the first 12 weeks of treatment. Partial respond-
107 patients (4.7%) receiving combination therapy, 10
ers were then given 6 additional weeks of weekly CBT; full re-
of 109 (9.2%) receiving fluoxetine therapy, 5 of 111 (4.5%)
sponders were given biweekly CBT during the same interval
receiving CBT, and 3 of 112 (2.7%) receiving placebo.
(stage 2). After week 18, CBT was provided every 6 weeks on
Statistically, only fluoxetine therapy was associated with
a maintenance visit schedule (stage 3). Combination therapy
more suicidal events than placebo (P=.04; odds ratio [OR],
consisted of all the components of the medication manage-
3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-13.7).
ment and CBT protocols plus limited interaction between the
Before study inception, we hypothesized that combi-
CBT therapist and the pharmacotherapist.
nation therapy would show a larger, more rapid short-
The TADS used the following 2 primary outcome mea-
term treatment benefit than fluoxetine therapy or CBT.
sures assessed at baseline and weeks 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36
We additionally hypothesized that the advantage for com-
by an independent evaluator who was blind to the treatmentcondition: (1) the scalar Children’s Depression Rating Scale–
bination therapy relative to fluoxetine therapy and CBT
Revised (CDRS-R) total score19 and (2) responder status (de-
would be evident across 9 months of randomized treat-
fined as much or very much improved) on the CGI-I.20 Data
ment.5 In a test of this hypothesis, we now report effec-
from the adolescent self-report, the Reynolds Adolescent De-
tiveness outcomes for combination therapy, fluoxetine
pression Scale,21 was included because of the prominent place
therapy, and CBT across the full 36 weeks of random-
accorded adolescent self-report in the CBT literature.22 Psy-
ized treatment. For ethical and feasibility reasons, pa-
chometric properties and intercorrelations for all measures were
tients assigned to placebo were treated openly after week
12, and the placebo group is not included in these analy-
To ascertain suicidal ideation, we used a “flag” score of 31 or
ses by design. Reflecting the paramount public health
greater on the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire–Junior High School
importance of suicidality,10 we also report rates of clini-
Version (SIQ-Jr),23 which denotes suicidal ideation of sufficientseverity to warrant prompt clinical evaluation. To identify pro-
cally significant suicidal ideation and treatment-
spectively assessed treatment-emergent suicidal events, we used
the Columbia University classification scheme of the US Foodand Drug Administration analyses of antidepressant-associated
suicidal events.8 In the Columbia coding scheme, classificationas a suicidal event requires a suicide attempt, preparatory ac-tion toward suicidal behavior, or suicidal ideation. Self-harm with-
The TADS methods have been extensively documented in pre-
out suicidal ideation or intent, such as cutting or other forms of
vious publications,5-7,11-18 and only those aspects of the study
self-mutilation, are not included in this definition. All suicidal
that are directly relevant to the weeks 0 to 36 analyses will be
events met the TADS adverse event reporting threshold of func-
presented herein. All participants and at least 1 parent for each
tional impairment or seeking medical attention. Coding of treat-
participant provided informed consent/assent. The institu-
ment-emergent suicidal events was completed with the evalua-
tional review board at each site approved and monitored the
tor blinded to treatment assignment and course using the
protocol. Safety monitoring was performed quarterly by the
Columbia Suicidality Classification Group.
NIMH Data Safety and Monitoring Board.
The primary effectiveness and safety analyses were con-
Participants and all study staff remained masked in the “pills-
ducted using an intention-to-treat (ITT) principle in which the
only” conditions (fluoxetine therapy and placebo) until the end
analysis included all patients randomized to treatment regard-
of stage 1 (week 12). Patients and treatment providers in the
less of adherence to study treatment or procedures. To mini-
combination and CBT conditions were aware of treatment as-
mize confounding, we also conducted supplementary ob-
signment. Cognitive behavior therapy, fluoxetine therapy, and
served cases (OCs) analyses that included only those data
combination therapy responders or partial responders (mini-
elements for which the patient was still in his or her assigned
mally improved or better on a clinician-assigned Clinical Global
treatment arm at the time of the assessment. A teenager was
Impressions–Improvement [CGI-I] score) entered stage 2, a
considered an observed case if any of the following did not oc-
6-week maintenance/consolidation phase, followed by stage 3,
cur before the assessment or event date: investigator-initiated
an 18-week maintenance phase. For ethical reasons, to main-
provision of out-of-protocol treatment administered under the
tain the sample, and to protect the ecological validity of the fluox-
adjunctive services and attrition prevention provisions of the
etine therapy condition during long-term treatment, placebo
protocol (termed premature termination), study dropout, or dis-
and fluoxetine treatments were unmasked at the end of stage
continuation of assigned treatment based on treatment nonre-
1. Placebo-treated patients who were deemed partial or non-
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Statistical analyses on the primary scalar outcome mea-
are non-Hispanic white; 11.3% are African American; and
sures were conducted using random coefficients regression (RR)
9.8% are Hispanic. With a range of mild to severe de-
models.24 Specifically, the influence of treatment on outcome
pression (CDRS-R total raw score, 45-98), the mean (SD)
was modeled as a function of fixed effects for treatment (with
CDRS-R raw score at entry was 59.8 (10.3). Translated
time defined as the natural logarithm of days since random-
to a normed T score (standardized to a mean of 50 and
ization) and clinical site (and their 2- and 3-way interaction
SD of 10) of 75.3 (6.5), on average the TADS sample shows
terms), as well as the random effects for patient andpatientϫtime interactions. The final model included linear and
moderate to moderately severe MDD. This level of de-
quadratic time effects and their significant interactions. Site was
pression is consistent with mean (SD) Clinical Global Im-
retained but its interactions were omitted from the final model
pressions Severity Scale20 and Clinical Global Assess-
owing to statistical nonsignificance. Generalized estimating equa-
ment Scale scores of 4.7 (0.8) and 49.8 (7.4), respectively.
tions (GEEs) for binary outcomes were used to compare the
This was the first episode of depression for 86.5% of the
probability of treatment response over time in the 3 treatment
TADS patients, with a mean (SD) duration of 75.1 (86.7)
arms. The model included treatment, time, treatment ϫtime,
weeks. On the CDRS-R suicide item, 28.1% of patients
and site. The time effect was linear and, thus, it was not nec-
were defined as having at least minimal suicidal ide-
essary to include a quadratic term in the GEE model. For this
ation (CDRS-R item 13 score of Ն2), with 1.2% endors-
analysis, the original 13 sites were collapsed into 10 sites to im-
ing severe depression (CDRS-R item 13 score of Ն6). In-
prove the stability of the model (low enrolling sites were com-bined into a single site). The RR and GEE models are tolerant
cluding dysthymia, more than half of the sample (52.0%)
to data missing at random in the dependent variable; accord-
was comorbid for at least 1 other psychiatric disorder.
ingly, no imputation methods were used.
Forty-one of 327 patients (12.5%) met DSM-IV criteria
General linear models and tests for differences in propor-
for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and, of these,
tions (2 tests) were performed to evaluate differences across
9 of 41 (22.0%) were taking a psychostimulant at study
treatment groups at baseline. The rate of clinically significant
entry. The modal family income was $50 000 to $74 000,
suicidality on the SIQ-Jr and of treatment-emergent suicidal
with a range of less than $5000 to more than $200 000;
events in each treatment arm was compared using 2 and Fisher
41.7% lived in a single-parent home; and 26.7% had been
exact tests. For treatment-emergent suicidal events, Wald ORs
suspended or expelled from school. No statistically sig-
and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to provide an in-
nificant differences among the 3 treatment groups on any
dicator of the risk of active treatments relative to each other.
For hypotheses stipulated in the statistical plan for the 2 pri-
of the specified baseline characteristics were noted.
mary outcomes, the nominal significance level was set a prioriat a 2-tailed type I error rate of .05 for the omnibus tests de-
PATIENT DISPOSITION
signed to compare all 3 treatment arms. If the treatment or atreatmentϫtime (linear or quadratic) interaction term was sig-
As shown in Figure 1, 2804 patients were screened by
nificant, then pairwise comparisons were conducted using a
telephone (gate A). Of these, 1088 signed consent for evalu-
closed test procedure with an ␣ of .05 for each test. In the event
ation of inclusion and exclusion criteria (gate B) and 439
of a nonsignificant omnibus result, a sequential rejective ap-
completed the baseline assessment and were subse-
proach25 was planned (but not needed) in all but the safety analy-
quently randomized to treatment (gate C). This report con-
ses for which the samples sizes were deemed too small to war-
cerns only the 327 patients randomized to 1 of the 3 ac-
To evaluate the magnitude of the influence of combination
tive treatment conditions: combination therapy (n=107),
therapy and fluoxetine therapy relative to CBT, we calculated
fluoxetine therapy (n=109), and CBT (n=111). Of these,
the effect size and the number needed to treat (NNT) for the
270 (82.6%) continued in their assigned randomized treat-
primary scalar and binary outcomes, respectively. Effect sizes
ment across the 12-week short-term treatment period. By
(Hedges g) were calculated as ME−MC/SDpooled, where ME rep-
the end of stage 1, 23 of 327 patients (7.0%) prematurely
resents the adjusted mean of experimental treatment, MC rep-
terminated, 34 of 327 (10.4%) exited owing to with-
resents the adjusted mean of the comparison treatment, and
drawal of consent or loss to follow-up, and 28 of 327
SDpooled represents pooling of the standard deviations from within
(8.6%) were referred to open treatment owing to nonre-
both groups.26 The NNT was calculated according to methods
sponse at the end of stage 1. Two hundred forty-three of
327 patients (74.3%) remained in the study at week 36.
Analyses were conducted using SAS statistical software (ver-
sion 8.2; SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina), with PROC
Of the 327 patients, 178 (54.4%) remained in the treat-
MIXED used for RR and PROC GENMOD used for GEE and
ment condition to which they initially had been random-
ized (n=68 for combination therapy, n=55 for fluoxetinetherapy, and n=55 for CBT). Eighty-four of 327 (25.7%)exited the study because of loss to follow-up or with-
drawal of consent (n=21 for combination therapy [19.6%],n=32 for fluoxetine therapy [29.4%], and n=31 for CBT
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS
[27.9%]). Ninety-six of 327 patients (29.4%) discontin-ued their randomized treatment before week 36 owing to
The full TADS sample (N = 439) has been extensively de-
premature termination or nonresponse at the end of stage
scribed and compared with clinical and epidemiological
1 (n=25 for combination therapy [23.4%], n=39 for fluox-
etine therapy [35.8%], and n=32 for CBT [28.8%]), with
The clinical and demographic characteristics of the 327
only combination therapy vs fluoxetine therapy proving
adolescents assigned to an active treatment arm (fluox-
statistically significant (P=.046; OR, 1.8; 95% confidence
etine therapy, CBT, or combination therapy) follow. The
interval, 1.0-3.3). Among the 149 patients who discon-
mean (SD) age was 14.6 (1.5) years; 45.0% are male; 74.0%
tinued randomized treatment across the 36 weeks, the pri-
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
treatment owing to nonresponse (as per protocol)
Figure 1. Flow diagram for the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study. Reasons for discontinuation before randomization have been previously reported.7 All 112 patients assigned to the placebo condition discontinued randomized treatment at the end of stage 1 as per protocol and are not included in the current randomization through week 36 analysis. Observed cases (OCs) are cases in a randomized treatment arm at the assessment point. CBT indicates cognitive behavior therapy; DC, discontinuation of treatment owing to premature termination, nonresponse at the end of stage 1, or study exit; Exit, exit from the study owing to withdrawal of consent or loss to follow-up.
mary reason for termination was clinician-initiated dis-
6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 identified early superiority for
continuation of treatment (n=96 [64.4%]) or departure
combination therapy and fluoxetine therapy relative to CBT
from the study without prior termination of treatment
at 6 and 12 weeks, whereas combination therapy and fluox-
etine therapy did not separate, thereby replicating previ-ously published results.7 Combination therapy and fluox-
BENEFITS
etine therapy retained superiority relative to CBT at week18, and combination therapy remained superior to CBT
Table 1 presents the ITT and OC adjusted means and
at week 24; all 3 treatments converged at weeks 30 and
standard deviations for the CDRS-R and Reynolds Ado-
36. The OC analyses matched the ITT results, with planned
lescent Depression Scale, as well as the adjusted CGI-I
contrasts showing that fluoxetine therapy retained supe-
response probabilities broken out for each treatment group
riority over CBT to week 24 and combination therapy re-
by assessment point. Table 2 presents planned con-
tained superiority over CBT to week 30.
trasts by treatment week for each treatment arm. Figure 2
With a positive response defined as a CGI-I of 1 (very
graphs the ITT and OC trajectories on the CDRS-R for
much improved) or 2 (much improved) as the depen-
the 3 active treatments across 36 weeks.
dent variable, GEE analyses indicated that, for the ITT cases,
Intention-to-treat RR analyses on CDRS-R total score
the effect of treatment was statistically significant (22=8.8;
across time identified a statistically significant linear time
P = . 0 1 ) , a s w a s t i m e ( 25 = 72.0; P Ͻ .001) and
effect (F1,296=46.2; P Ͻ.001), timeϫtreatment interac-
treatmentϫtime (210=19.6; P=.03); the effect of site was
tion (F2,296 = 15.4; P Ͻ .001), quadratic time effect
nonsignificant (29=10.7; P=.30). Adjusted response rates
(F1,287=12.8; PϽ.001), and quadratic timeϫtreatment in-
(adjusted for site) at 12 weeks were 73% for combination
teraction (F2,287=13.0; PϽ.001). The fixed effect of site was
therapy, 62% for fluoxetine therapy, and 48% for CBT.
significant (F12,311=2.0; P=.02). Planned contrasts at weeks
These GEE estimated responses rates are similar to the pre-
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Table 1. Adjusted Mean CDRS-R and RADS Total Score and CGI-I Response Probabilitiesa Mean ± SD Score Cases/Treatment Baseline
Abbreviations: CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; CDRS-R, Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised; CGI-I, Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement; FLX,
fluoxetine hydrochloride therapy; ITT, intention-to-treat; NA, not applicable; OCs, observed cases; RADS, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale.
a For CDRS-R, the total score was rated by blinded clinical evaluator; for CGI-I, estimated response probability was from ratings by a blinded clinical evaluator;
and for RADS, the total score was rated by the patient. All means are adjusted for fixed and random effects as specified in the analytic models.
viously published week 12 response rates (71% for com-
bination therapy maintained superiority relative to CBT
bination therapy, 61% for fluoxetine therapy, and 43% for
at weeks 24 and 30. The OC results matched the ITT re-
CBT), in which the last-observation-carried-forward
sults, with planned contrasts indicating that combina-
method was used to impute missing data in a logistic re-
tion therapy retained superiority relative to CBT to week
gression analysis.7 Adjusted response rates at week 18 were
36, whereas CBT and fluoxetine therapy were not sta-
85% for combination therapy, 69% for fluoxetine therapy,
tistically different from week 18 onward.
and 65% for CBT for the ITT cases. At week 18, combi-
The magnitude and, hence, clinical significance of the
nation therapy maintained statistical superiority relative
influence of combination therapy and fluoxetine therapy
to fluoxetine therapy and CBT, which did not differ from
relative to CBT was evaluated by calculating effect sizes
each other. By week 24, all 3 treatments converged and
(Hedges g) using the CDRS-R and Reynolds Adolescent
remained so to 36 weeks. Adjusted response rates at week
Depression Scale adjusted scores and by calculating the
36 were 86% for combination therapy, 81% for fluox-
NNT using adjusted response rates. An effect size of 0.2
etine therapy, and 81% for CBT. Observed cases analyses
is small, 0.5 is moderate, and 0.8 is large; corresponding
indicated that combination therapy maintained superior-
values for the NNT are 10, 5, and 2. As shown in Table 3,
ity over fluoxetine therapy and CBT at week 18, whereas
the magnitude of the treatment effect for combination
fluoxetine therapy did not differ from CBT after week 12.
therapy and fluoxetine therapy relative to CBT de-
Intention-to-treat RR analyses on longitudinal Rey-
creased across time for the ITT and OC samples, with
nolds Adolescent Depression Scale scores identified a sta-
combination therapy but not fluoxetine therapy main-
tistically significant linear time effect (F1,276=14.9; P=.001),
taining a numerically significant, if at times clinically mod-
time ϫtreatment interaction (F2,276= 9.9; PϽ.001), qua-
est, advantage over CBT at all time points. The advan-
dratic time effect (F1,265= 10.4; P = .001), and quadratic
tage of combination therapy over fluoxetine therapy
time ϫtreatment interaction (F2,265=6.7; P=.002). The
relative to CBT is most evident on adolescent self-report
fixed effect of site was significant (F12,314=3.0; P=.003).
As shown in Table 2, planned contrasts at weeks 6, 12,18, 24, 30, and 36 identified early superiority for com-
SUICIDAL IDEATION AND EVENTS
bination therapy and fluoxetine therapy relative to CBTat 6 and 12 weeks, thereby replicating previously pub-
With respect to clinically significant suicidal ideation, 97
lished results.7 Combination therapy and fluoxetine
of 320 patients with an SIQ-Jr (30.3%) met the SIQ-Jr
therapy did not differ. Fluoxetine therapy retained sta-
suicidality flag criterion at baseline, including 42 of 106
tistical superiority relative to CBT through week 18. Com-
(39.6%) for combination therapy, 28 of 107 (26.2%) for
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Table 2. Planned Contrasts for the CDRS-R and RADS Total Scores and CGI-I Response Probabilities Contrast F df P Value F df P Value Contrast
2 Test P Value
2 Test P Value
Abbreviations: CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; CDRS-R, Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised; CGI-I, Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement;
CGI-I TR, CGI-I predicted probabilities of treatment response; FLX, fluoxetine hydrochloride therapy; ITT, intention to treat; NA, not applicable; OCs, observedcases; OR, odds ratio; RADS, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale.
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Figure 2. Adjusted mean Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised (CDRS-R) total scores. A, intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. B, and observed case (OC) (B) analyses. CBT indicates cognitive behavior therapy. Table 3. Magnitude of the Effect of Combination Therapy and Fluoxetine Relative to CBT ITT Population OC Population Effect Size, Hedges g Effect Size, Hedges g Contrast CGI-I, NNT CGI-I, NNT
Abbreviations: CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; CDRS-R, Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised; CGI-I, Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement; FLX,
fluoxetine hydrochloride therapy; ITT, intention-to-treat; NNT, number needed to treat; OCs, observed cases; RADS, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale.
fluoxetine therapy, and 27 of 107 (25.2%) for CBT. Pair-
of 63 for combination therapy, 8 of 55 (14.5%) for fluox-
wise comparisons indicated that combination therapy had
etine therapy, and 2 of 53 (3.8%) for CBT. Fluoxetine
an excess of suicidal ideation at baseline relative to fluox-
therapy showed higher rates of suicidal risk compared
etine therapy (P = .04) and CBT (P = .02). At week 12, 31
with CBT (P = .04) and combination therapy (P = .01),
of 278 patients who completed the questionnaire met the
whereas combination therapy and CBT did not differ.
SIQ-Jr flag criterion (11.2%), including 8 of 90 (8.9%)
Among the observed cases, fluoxetine therapy showed
for combination therapy, 18 of 97 (18.6%) for fluox-
elevated rates compared with combination therapy
etine therapy, and 5 of 91 (5.5%) for CBT. For the ob-
(P=.002) and a trend toward elevated rates compared with
served cases, 24 of 257 (9.3%) met the SIQ-Jr flag crite-
CBT (P=.09), whereas combination therapy and CBT did
rion at week 12, including 5 of 84 (6.0%) for combination
therapy, 14 of 89 (15.7%) for fluoxetine therapy, and 5
Table 4 presents rates and Table 5 presents planned
of 84 (6.0%) for CBT. Thus, by week 12, patients treated
contrasts and ORs for treatment-emergent suicidal events
with fluoxetine continued to show more clinically sig-
by treatment group for the ITT and OC samples. During
nificant suicidal ideation than those treated with CBT
stage 1, 6.7% of ITT and 6.1% of OC patients had a sui-
(PϽ.01) or, as a trend, with combination therapy (P=.06).
cidal event. From 0 to 36 weeks of treatment, 9.8% of
Among the observed cases, fluoxetine therapy was sig-
ITT and 8.0% of OC patients experienced a suicidal event.
nificantly different from CBT (P = .04) and combination
Of these, 22 of 32 ITT events (69%) and 20 of 26 OC
therapy (P = .04), which did not differ. At week 36, 15 of
events (77%) occurred during the first 12 weeks of treat-
228 patients (6.6%) who completed an SIQ-Jr met the
ment. Across 12 weeks of treatment, suicidal events were
SIQ-Jr flag criterion, including 2 of 79 (2.5%) for com-
more common in patients treated with fluoxetine alone
bination therapy, 10 of 73 (13.7%) for fluoxetine therapy,
in the ITT sample (11.0%, compared with 4.7% for com-
and 3 of 76 (3.9%) for CBT. For the observed cases, 10
bination therapy and 4.5% for CBT) and in the OC sample
of 171 (5.8%) met the SIQ-Jr flag criterion, including 0
(9.2%, compared with 4.7% for combination therapy and
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
4.5% for CBT). Likewise, across 36 weeks of treatment,suicidal events were more common in patients treated
Table 4. Patients With Suicidal Eventsa
with fluoxetine alone in the ITT sample (14.7%, com-pared with 8.4% for combination therapy and 6.3% for
No. (%) of Patients
CBT) and in the OC sample (11.0%, compared with 7.5%
for combination therapy and 5.4% for CBT). Although
Treatment Patients Population Population
only the 0- to 36-week fluoxetine therapy vs CBT con-
trast proved statistically significant (OR, 2.6; P=.04), ORs
at 12 and 36 weeks indicate approximately twice the risk
of a treatment-emergent suicidal event in patients treated
with fluoxetine therapy than in patients treated with CBT
or combination therapy. There were no completed sui-
Abbreviations: CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; FLX, fluoxetine
Relative to our previous report at 12 weeks,7 data on the
hydrochloride therapy; ITT, intention-to-treat; OCs, observed cases.
benefits and harms during 36 weeks of randomized treat-
Suicidal events include suicide attempt, preparatory action toward
suicidal behavior, or suicidal ideation as adjudicated by the Columbia
ment provide important new information. First, clini-
Suicidality Classification Group. Youths with multiple suicide-related events
cally meaningful improvement occurred in all 3 active
are counted only once and the most severe code is represented.
treatment conditions, with convergence on most endpoints by week 36. Second, treatment with fluoxetinealone or in combination with CBT produced more rapid
applicable to those obviously ill depressed adolescents
improvement in MDD symptoms than did CBT alone.
who few would disagree ought to receive evaluation and
Third, although rarely statistically superior, combina-
treatment as a part of routine clinical practice.28
tion therapy proved numerically superior to fluoxetinetherapy on most end points, with the advantage for com-
COMBINATION THERAPY
bination therapy most apparent on the OC analyses andon adolescent self-report. Fourth, CBT catches up to fluox-
Overall, combination therapy in the TADS proved ro-
etine therapy at the midpoint of treatment and to com-
bustly superior to CBT and modestly and inconsistently
bination therapy toward the end of treatment. Fifth, clini-
better than fluoxetine therapy. Secondary analyses of out-
cally significant suicidal ideation persists in a minority
comes at 12 weeks show that the combination of CBT
of patients and is significantly more common in pa-
and fluoxetine but not fluoxetine alone proved superior
tients treated with fluoxetine alone than with combina-
to CBT and placebo with respect to probability of remis-
tion therapy or CBT. Sixth, despite state-of-the-art
sion,29 function and quality of life,30 and multiple mea-
treatment and notable improvement in depression,
sures of acceptability, tolerability, and safety, including
treatment-emergent suicidal events occurred in 10% of
suicidality.9 Of the 16 possible week 12 end points ex-
TADS patients during 9 months of treatment, with
amined so far, combination therapy proved superior to
most of these occurring early in treatment. Patients
CBT and placebo on greater than 90% of the week 12 end
treated with fluoxetine alone were twice as likely as pa-
points and to fluoxetine therapy half the time, whereas
tients treated with combination therapy or CBT to ex-
fluoxetine therapy was superior to CBT and placebo in
perience a suicidal event, indicating that CBT may
just under half.31 Although the reasons for the advan-
protect against treatment-emergent suicidal events in
tage of combination therapy relative to fluoxetine therapy
patients taking fluoxetine. After taking benefit and risk
are unclear, it is clear that the TADS was underpowered
into account, we conclude that the combination of
to detect the identified 10% difference between combi-
fluoxetine and CBT appears superior to either mono-
nation therapy and fluoxetine therapy at week 12 or 18
therapy as a long-term treatment strategy for MDD in
on the primary categorical outcome. This difference
(NNT = 10), although at the margin of clinical detec-tion, is nonetheless of considerable public health rel-
GENERALIZABILITY
Given the difference in the sampling frame and CBT
Although the TADS sample spans the range from mild
intervention strategies, it is difficult to directly compare
to severe depression, most patients (97%) fell in the mod-
the TADS findings with those of the few other trials in
erate to severe range of illness as characterized by a mean
depressed youth that included a combined treatment con-
CDRS-R score 2.5 SD above the mean (98th percentile),
dition. One methodologically flawed and severely un-
high rates of comorbidity, and a strikingly prolonged me-
derpowered study by Melvin and colleagues32 showed no
dian (42 weeks) and mean (75 weeks) current episode
advantage for combined treatment over medication or
duration. Given a mix of younger and older teenagers of
CBT, but it did show an advantage for CBT over sertra-
both sexes, minority representation roughly proportion-
line hydrochloride. Another study comparing CBT com-
ate to US population values, and wide variability in so-
bined with medication vs medication alone in a mildly
cioeconomic circumstances,6 the results should be broadly
ill population showed a weak and inconsistent CBT
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Table 5. ORs and Treatment Contrasts for Suicidal Events ITT Population OC Population Planned Contrast
2 Test P Valuea OR (95% CI)
2 Test P Valuea OR (95% CI)
Abbreviations: CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; CI, confidence interval; FLX, fluoxetine hydrochloride therapy; ITT, intention-to-treat; OCs, observed cases; OR,
a Unless otherwise indicated, P values were calculated using 2 ϫ 2 2 test results.
b Fisher exact test was used to calculate the P value owing to 25% of the cells having expected counts less than 5.
effect.33 A report from the randomized controlled trial most
to 24 and to combination therapy by weeks 30 to 36. Thus,
like the TADS—the British Adolescent Depression Anti-
although some have speculated that CBT was poorly con-
depressant and Psychotherapy Trial—is slated for pub-
structed or implemented,38 the long-term outcomes pre-
lication in late 2007. By intention, the Adolescent De-
sented herein make it more likely that the severity of ill-
pression Antidepressant and Psychotherapy Trial and the
ness simply delayed the onset of benefit for CBT relative
TADS both include the Health of the Nation Outcome
to combination therapy and fluoxetine therapy, a finding
Scales for Children and Adolescents. At 12 weeks, the
that is widely acknowledged in adult studies of CBT rela-
TADS showed a robust advantage for combined treat-
tive to medication.40 Given that a recent meta-analysis of
ment on this measure34; combined data set analyses, which
the CBT literature for depressed youth showed a rela-
were built into the structure of both trials, should am-
tively small effect size (0.34),41 efforts to understand the
plify and extend the results of the individual studies. Fu-
mechanisms by which CBT alters the course of MDD and
ture analyses of the TADS also should shed light on who
in turn to revise CBT protocols so as to increase their effect
is likely to respond to combined treatment or to 1 of the
2 monotherapies and whether adherence to treatment me-diates these differences. These future analyses are ex-
FLUOXETINE THERAPY
pected to generate hypotheses that will inform future stud-ies in this area.
In contrast to the unenthusiastic view of medications heldby some,42,43 we and others7,28,44,45 concluded from the
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CBT?
short-term treatment data that the benefits of includingfluoxetine (we make no claims about other antidepres-
In short-term studies of CBT, one-third of depressed youth
sants) in the short-term treatment of adolescent MDD were
do not respond.35,36 In the TADS CBT condition, which
readily apparent and clinically meaningful. In second-
blended the best available elements of cognitive, behav-
ary analyses at 12 weeks, we have now shown that fluox-
ioral, and family treatments,11,15,16 more than half of the
etine alone or in combination with CBT accelerates re-
patients did not respond at 12 weeks, which represents a
sponse relative to CBT and to placebo.46 Thus, when
substantially larger proportion of patients with an inad-
considered in light of 2 other positive randomized con-
equate response compared with other CBT trials and well
trolled trials for fluoxetine therapy in pediatric MDD,47,48
below the hypothesized 60% response rate. In the CBT lit-
short- and long-term data from the TADS unequivo-
erature, it is conventional to argue that treatment should
cally confirm that fluoxetine is an effective treatment for
continue longer than 12 weeks to maximize the probabil-
adolescents with moderate to severe MDD.
ity of a response and to minimize the possibility of a re-lapse.37 Given that the TADS patients also were more se-
SUICIDALITY
verely ill than most patients in published CBT trials,6 12weeks of CBT may not have been long enough to allow
Although the absolute magnitude of the medication-
CBT to separate from placebo in the short term.5,38 In sup-
attributable risk is low (number needed to harm, 50), treat-
port of this proposition, which replicates and extends pre-
ment-emergent suicidal events are an important public
vious results in the CBT literature where 16 to 20 weeks
health concern in children and adolescents treated with
of treatment is the norm,39 the response rate for CBT im-
antidepressants.8,10 Findings from the TADS across 9
proved from 48% to 65% at week 18, whereas the re-
months of treatment confirm and extend results at 12
sponse rate for fluoxetine therapy moved from 62% to 69%.
weeks7 showing that patients treated with fluoxetine alone
Although causal interpretations are limited by the ab-
are more likely than patients treated with combination
sence of a placebo control beyond week 12, the data show
therapy or CBT to show clinically significant suicidal ide-
that CBT caught up with fluoxetine therapy by weeks 18
ation (on the SIQ-Jr) and treatment-emergent suicidal
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
events (on the adverse event report). As an effectiveness
taneously remitting.34 Thus, it is unlikely that improve-
trial for which suicidal events were not a primary end point,
ment within 36 weeks primarily reflected spontaneous
the TADS was not structured properly to segment risk or
remission. It is more likely that a reduction in relapse
to establish the mechanism by which fluoxetine therapy
coupled with gradual improvement in MDD symptoms
may enhance risk or that CBT may exert a protective effect.
with continued treatment was responsible for the ob-
The increased risk of a suicidal event with fluoxetine
served overall improvement rate of approximately 85%.
therapy cannot simply be due to improvement because (1)
In comparative treatment trials that include medica-
combination therapy, which began with statistically higher
tion and psychotherapy, double-blind administration of
suicidal ideation, improved as much as or more than fluox-
the medication therapy but not the psychosocial treat-
etine therapy while patients receiving combination therapy
ment conditions is possible. This is a design choice, not
had a rate of suicidal events that approximated CBT alone
a design flaw,43,54 which constrains the question to an ef-
and (2) suicidality did not increase in the CBT group dur-
fectiveness (primarily information for clinical decision
ing the 12- to 24-week interval, when a large portion of
makers) rather than efficacy (dismantling treatment ele-
the CBT benefit occurred. Recalling that medication and
ments) aim.5,7,31 In the absence of a CBT-placebo group
CBT were administered in a coordinated fashion,12 the mean
and a fluoxetine therapy–nonsupportive psychotherapy
dose of fluoxetine hydrochloride in combination therapy
comparison group, it is not possible to conclusively claim
(28 mg) was lower than that for fluoxetine hydrochlo-
the superiority of combination therapy relative to CBT
ride alone (32 mg) at 12 weeks.7 Although there is no evi-
or combination therapy relative to fluoxetine therapy, re-
dence from the TADS to suggest that fluoxetine induces
spectively. Similarly, in the absence of an active psycho-
mania or “behavioral activation,” patients treated with com-
therapy comparison group, it is not possible to claim that
bination therapy show fewer psychiatric and nonpsychi-
the benefits of TADS CBT are unique to CBT compared
atric adverse events than patients treated with fluoxetine
with a different type of psychosocial treatment. How-
alone.9 Thus, it is at least possible if not likely that the added
ever, 3 lines of evidence suggest that the advantage shown
risk associated with fluoxetine monotherapy was dose re-
by combined treatment is not artifactual. First, low ex-
lated. More likely, CBT alone or in combination with fluox-
pectation of benefit predicted a poorer outcome at 12
etine mitigates suicidality, perhaps by minimizing the prob-
weeks; however, expectancy did not differentially mod-
ability that ideation will lead to an attempt, decreasing
erate outcomes,34 suggesting that expectancy alone can-
the likelihood or improving the management of stressful
not account for the advantage of combined treatment. Sec-
psychosocial events, decreasing family conflict and
ond, if expectancy effects accounted for all the advantage
enhancing family problem solving ability, or providing skills
of combination therapy over fluoxetine therapy, one might
to manage negative affects, agitation, irritability, or dis-
expect that unblinding the fluoxetine condition at 12
weeks should reduce the superiority of combinationtherapy over fluoxetine therapy at 18 weeks. Instead, the
LIMITATIONS
numerical superiority of combination therapy over fluox-etine therapy increases once unblinding takes place, and
We discuss design challenges and controversies in de-
combination therapy remains superior to CBT longer than
tail elsewhere5,31 and restrict our comments herein to 3
fluoxetine therapy does. Third, combined treatment is
areas of concern: (1) the absence of a placebo group af-
robust to differences in patients, therapists, and settings
ter week 12, (2) expectancy effects, and (3) the influ-
across all the outcomes examined so far,31,34 suggesting
that rater bias is not playing a substantive role in the effect
We readily acknowledge that it is impossible to con-
clude that patients would not have reached equivalent
Finally, patients assigned to combined treatment ex-
week 36 outcomes simply because of the passage of time
perienced somewhat greater contact time than did pa-
without a placebo group or, better, an untreated control
tients assigned to fluoxetine therapy or CBT alone. As
group, both of which were considered unfeasible for ethi-
pointed out earlier, the TADS did not include the proper
cal and practical reasons.50 Thirty percent to 70% of youth
control conditions to disentangle time and attention from
with MDD recover during the first year of illness, al-
the other active components of treatment. Although analy-
though 30% subsequently relapse.51 Naturalistic fol-
ses of the influence of treatment adherence on outcome
low-up of randomized controlled trials of psycho-
may help decompose the extra benefit associated with
therapy52 and placebo-substitution trials of fluoxetine
combined treatment, the TADS was never intended to ask
therapy37 also show a high rate of relapse, even against a
questions involving the mechanism of treatment ben-
background of substantial improvement. In the only trial
efit. Rather, it was designed to ask the simple question
of maintenance psychotherapy in depressed teens, CBT
of whether combined treatment was advantageous rela-
booster sessions did not reduce the rate of recurrence but
tive to CBT and fluoxetine therapy because they would
did appear to accelerate recovery among participants who
be delivered in clinical practice: the answer to this ques-
were still depressed at the end of the short-term phase.53
The mean episode duration was longer than 1 year, andmore than half the TADS sample had received previoustreatment within the current episode.6 Secondary analy-
ses at week 12 also showed that shorter episode dura-tion predicted a better outcome at 12 weeks, which is the
The 2 central findings from the TADS are that (1) fluox-
opposite of what would be predicted if episodes were spon-
etine alone or in combination with CBT accelerates im-
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
provement of depression relative to CBT alone and (2)
Kolker, and Karyn Riedal (Carolinas Medical Center,
adding CBT to fluoxetine therapy minimizes persistent
Charlotte, North Carolina); Norah Feeny, Robert Find-
suicidal ideation and treatment-emergent suicidal events.
ling, Sheridan Stull, and Susan Baab (Case Western Re-
This leads us to make 4 key recommendations for health
serve University, Cleveland, Ohio); Elizabeth B. Weller,
care decision makers at all levels of the health care sys-
Michele Robins, Ronald A. Weller, and Naushad Jessani
tem. First, identification and provision of evidence-
(The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia,
based treatment to adolescents with moderate to severe
Pennsylvania); Bruce Waslick (Baystate Health/Tufts Uni-
depression would likely have a positive public health ben-
versity, Springfield, Massachusetts), Michael Sweeney, and
efit and should be encouraged. Second, because accel-
Randi Dublin (Columbia University, New York, New
erating symptom reduction by using medication is an im-
York); John Walkup, Golda Ginsburg, Elizabeth Kas-
portant clinical outcome in psychiatry, as it is in other
telic, and Hyung Koo (The Johns Hopkins University, Bal-
areas of medicine, use of fluoxetine should be made widely
timore, Maryland); Christopher Kratochvil, Diane May,
available, not discouraged. Third, given equivalent if de-
Randy LaGrone, and Brigette Vaughan (University of Ne-
layed results for CBT monotherapy and increased pro-
braska, Omaha); Anne Marie Albano (Columbia Univer-
tection from suicidality, CBT or other evidence-based psy-
sity), Glenn S. Hirsch and Elizabeth Podniesinki (New
chosocial treatments55 should be made readily available
York University, New York); Mark Reinecke, Bennett Lev-
as part of comprehensive treatment for depressed ado-
enthal, Gregory Rogers, and Rachel Jacobs (University
lescents. Because most adolescents with depression re-
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, and Northwestern Univer-
ceive no or unproved psychosocial treatments, which
sity, Evanston, Illinois); Sanjeev Pathak, Jennifer Wells,
oddly enough are sometimes sanctioned by expert guide-
Sarah Arszman, and Arman Danielyan (Cincinnati Chil-
lines,56 conforming to this recommendation will require
dren’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio); Paul
a significant shift in current practice.57 Until this oc-
Rohde, Anne Simons, James Grimm, and Stephenie Frank
curs, fluoxetine monotherapy, delivered in the context
(University of Oregon, Eugene); Graham Emslie, Beth
of regular clinical management and careful clinical moni-
Kennard, Carroll Hughes, and Taryn L. Mayes (The Uni-
toring, will remain an important stop-gap measure in pa-
versity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas);
tients for whom the earliest possible response is deemed
David Rosenberg, Nili Benazon, Michael Butkus, and Marla
clinically meaningful. Fourth, although not yet at the level
Bartoi (Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan); and
of evidence necessary to mandate a standard of care, we
Kelly Posner, for the Columbia University Suicidality Clas-
believe that the literature on evidence-based treatment
sification Group. James Rochon (Duke Clinical Re-
for adolescent MDD has reached sufficient maturity that
search Institute, Durham) is statistical consultant.
it should fall within the realm of informed consent.50
Financial Disclosure: Dr Findling has received research
Future reports from the TADS will address second-
support, acted as a consultant, and/or served on a speak-
ary outcomes; moderators and mediators, including ad-
er’s bureau for Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharma-
herence to treatment; remission, relapse, and recovery
ceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celltech-Medeva, Eli Lilly
during randomized treatment and during a year-long natu-
and Company, Forest Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline,
ralistic follow-up period; the nature and use of ancillary
Johnson & Johnson, New River, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer,
treatments; and short- and long-term cost-effectiveness,
Sanofi-Aventis, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Solvay, and Wy-
among other topics of interest to decision makers at all
eth Research. Dr Posner has received funding from the US
levels of the health care system. Although TADS manu-
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop the sui-
als and procedures were designed to be clinically appli-
cidality classification system used in their antidepressant
cable, additional research will be necessary to better un-
safety analysis. Subsequently, as part of an effort to help
derstand how to disseminate the TADS findings and to
execute the FDA suicidality classification mandates, Dr Pos-
explore topics, such as sequential treatment, not ad-
ner has had research support from Abbott Laboratories,
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cepha-lon, Eisai Inc, Forest Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline,
Submitted for Publication: August 28, 2006; final revi-
Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Organon USA, Sanofi-
sion received December 23, 2006; accepted December 26,
Aventis, Shire Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, and Wy-
Correspondence: John S. March, MD, MPH, Depart- Funding/Support: The TADS is supported by contract
ment of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Box
RFP-NIH-NIMH 98-DS-0008 from the NIMH to Duke
3527, Durham, NC 27710 ([email protected]).
University Medical Center (principal investigator, John
The TADS Team Authors: The TADS is coordinated by
S. March, MD, MPH). Eli Lilly and Company provided
the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and
fluoxetine and matching placebo under an independent
the Duke Clinical Research Institute at Duke University
educational grant to Duke University.
Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, in collabora-
Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions contained in this
tion with the NIMH. The Coordinating Center principal
report are the private views of the authors and are not to
collaborators are John S. March, Susan Silva, Stephen
be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the
Petrycki, John Curry, Karen Wells, John Fairbank, Barbara
NIMH, the National Institutes of Health, or the Depart-
Burns, Marisa Domino, and Steven McNulty. The NIMH
ment of Health and Human Services. Eli Lilly and Com-
principal collaborators are Benedetto Vitiello and Joanne
pany had no role in the design or implementation of the
Severe. Principal investigators and coinvestigators from
study, data analysis, or in the writing of this manu-
the clinical sites are as follows: Charles Casat, Jeanette
(REPRINTED) ARCH GEN PSYCHIATRY/ VOL 64 (NO. 10), OCT 2007
2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Additional Information: The TADS protocol and all of
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Triglycerides facts about A PATIENT-EDUCATION TOOL FROM THE COMMIT TEE ON C ARDIOVASCULAR AND METABOLIC DISEASES What You Should Know About… Triglycerides Triglycerides (TGs) are the most common type of fat in the body. They are also a great source of SUPPOSE THAT’S NOT ENOUGH. energy. TGs come from certain foods, and they are also produced naturally in the body b
An Information Service of the Division of Medical Assistance North Carolina Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter Number 156 March 2008 In This Issue. Additional OTCs Added to the Over-the-Counter Medications Coverage List Deleted NDCs from CMS New Pharmacy Prior Authorization Program for Second Generation Antihistamines FORM Quarterly Letter Update Program