Study data published online Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that the combination of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and sertraline, marketed as Zoloft by Pfizer, produced a “superior” response rate in children with anxiety disorders, compared with either treatment alone.

The US National Institute of Mental Health-funded CAMS trial involved 488 children between the ages of 7 and 17 with a primary diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder or social phobia, who were randomly assigned to receive sertraline, 14 sessions of CBT, a combination of the two therapies or placebo. After 12 weeks of treatment, results showed that 81 percent of children who underwent combined therapy were very much or much improved, compared with 60 percent in the CBT group, 55 percent in the sertraline group and 24 percent in the placebo group.

Researchers noted that adverse events, including suicidal ideation, a potential risk of SSRIs, were no more frequent among study participants taking sertraline than in those taking placebo, and that no child attempted suicide during the trial. NIMH director Thomas Insel commented that “this study provides strong evidence and reassurance…that a well-designed, two-pronged treatment approach is the gold standard, while a single line of treatment is still effective.”

Source: FirstWord

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