Continued Effectiveness of Relapse Prevention Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Following Fluoxetine Treatment in Youth With Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the continued effect of a sequential treatment strategy (fluoxetine followed by continued medication plus relapse prevention cognitive-behavioral therapy [RP-CBT]) on relapse prevention beyond the treatment phase.

Method: Youth (aged 8-17 years) with major depressive disorder (MDD) were treated with fluoxetine for 6 weeks. Responders (≥50% reduction on the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised [CDRS-R]) were randomized to continued medication management alone (MM) or continued medication management plus RP-CBT (MM+CBT) for an additional 6 months. Long-term follow-up assessments were conducted at weeks 52 and 78.

Results: Of 144 youth randomized to MM (n = 69) or MM+CBT (n = 75), 67% had at least 1 follow-up assessment, with equal rates in the 2 groups. Remission rates were high, although most had remitted during the 30-week treatment period. Only 6 additional participants remitted during long-term follow-up, and there were no differences on time to remission between MM+CBT and MM. The MM+CBT group had a significantly lower risk of relapse than the MM group throughout the 78-week follow-up period (hazard ratio = 0.467, 95% CI = 0.264 to 0.823; χ(2) = 6.852, p = .009). The estimated probability of relapse during the 78-week period was lower with MM+CBT than MM only (36% versus 62%). Mean time to relapse was also significantly longer with MM+CBT compared to MM alone by approximately 3 months (p = .007).

Conclusion: The addition of RP-CBT after acute response to medication management had a continued effect on reducing risk of relapse even after the end of treatment. Clinical trial registration information-Sequential Treatment of Pediatric MDD to Increase Remission and Prevent Relapse; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT00612313.

Keywords: CBT; continuation treatment; depression; relapse; youth.

FIGURE 1

Participants continuing in assessments. Note: MM = medication management; MM + CBT = medication management plus relapse prevention cognitive-behavioral therapy; W/drew = withdrew.

FIGURE 2

Remission survival curves through week 78. Note: For medication management plus relapse prevention cognitive-behavioral therapy (MM+CBT), n = 75; for medication management (MM), n = 69.

FIGURE 3

Relapse survival curves through week 78. Note: For medication management plus relapse prevention cognitive-behavioral therapy (MM+CBT), n = 67; for medication management (MM), n =54.