Pilot study: fluvoxamine treatment for depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with cancer

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005 Dec;44(12):1258-62. doi: 10.1097/01.chi.0000181042.29208.eb.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and benefit of fluvoxamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with cancer.

Method: The study was conducted from 2001 to 2004 at a pediatric hematology-oncology center. Fifteen children and adolescents with cancer were treated with fluvoxamine 100 mg/day in an open prospective 8-week trial. Safety and tolerability were evaluated at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8 by blood tests and the Side Effects Checklist. Clinical benefit was assessed with the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement, the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised, and the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale.

Results: Fluvoxamine was well tolerated by all subjects. Psychiatric symptoms improved significantly.

Conclusions: In this open trial, fluvoxamine appeared to be well tolerated and was associated with a promising reduction in the depression and anxiety symptoms of pediatric patients with cancer.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Child
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Fluvoxamine / adverse effects
  • Fluvoxamine / therapeutic use*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Sick Role

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluvoxamine