[Sertraline in child and adolescent psychiatry]

The aim of the study was to research the efficiency of sertraline (zoloft) in depressions, anxious states and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Diagnosis of the mental disorders was carried out according to ICD-10. 72 children (59 boys, 13 girls) aged 6-18 years were treated. There were 32 inpatients and 40 outpatients. Therapy with sertraline was performed during 8 weeks with a gradual increase (titration) and individual selection of the dose from 12.5 to 100 mg/day. During the therapy clinical observation was combined with the patients' examination using Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-D and HAM-A), and a Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). It was established that sertraline was very effective and safe drug in children (it has no influence on cognitive functions, has neither myorelaxing or sedative effects). Activity of this drug is characterized by quick manifestation of thymoanaleptic and anxiolytic effects. It mild depressive states 50 mg/day is a significant dose; in more severe depressions and obsessive-compulsive disorders the dose in juveniles was to 100 mg, the duration of the therapy was more than 2 months.