Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team,
Published in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
May 2003

OBJECTIVES: A rapidly growing empirical literature on the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in youth supports the efficacy of short-term treatment with depression-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy or medication management with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. These studies also identify a substantial probability of partial response and of relapse, which might be addressed by more intensive, longer-term treatments. METHOD: Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) is a multicenter, randomized, masked effectiveness trial designed to evaluate the short-term (12-week) and long-term (36-week) effectiveness of four treatments for adolescents with MDD: fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, their combination, and, acutely, pill placebo. A volunteer sample of 432 subjects aged 12-17 years (inclusive) with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of MDD who are broadly representative of patients seen in clinical practice will enter the study. The primary dependent measures rated blindly by an independent evaluator are the Children's Depression Rating Scale and, for responder analysis, a dichotomized Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score. Consistent with an intent-to-treat analysis, all patients, regardless of treatment status, return for all scheduled assessments. RESULTS: This report describes the design of the trial, the rationale for the design choices made, and the methods used to carry out the trial. CONCLUSION: When completed, TADS will improve our understanding of how best to initiate treatment for adolescents with MDD.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0890-8567

Publication Date

May 2003

Volume

42

Issue

5

Start / End Page

531 / 542

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Research Design
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fluoxetine
  • Female
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team, . (2003). Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 42(5), 531–542. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.CHI.0000046839.90931.0D
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team, Writing Group of the PREMIER Collaborative Research. “Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42, no. 5 (May 2003): 531–42. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.CHI.0000046839.90931.0D.
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team. Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 May;42(5):531–42.
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team, Writing Group of the PREMIER Collaborative Research. “Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, vol. 42, no. 5, May 2003, pp. 531–42. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.CHI.0000046839.90931.0D.
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study Team. Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS): rationale, design, and methods. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 May;42(5):531–542.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0890-8567

Publication Date

May 2003

Volume

42

Issue

5

Start / End Page

531 / 542

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Research Design
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fluoxetine
  • Female
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major