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Depression in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: case studies
Larissa Elgudin1, Sunil Kishan, Don Howe
1University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. laraelg@hotmail.com
Insights
Antidepressant medications may improve psychological outcomes for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of these treatments in CF patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Pediatric Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple systems, notably airways.
- While CF treatments have improved life expectancy, psychological support remains limited.
- CF significantly impacts patients' and families' quality of life.
Observation:
- This study presents three pediatric cases of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients diagnosed with depression.
- Treatment involved a combination of antidepressant medications and psychosocial interventions.
- Two out of three patients showed positive psychological outcomes.
Findings:
- Antidepressant medication, alongside psychosocial interventions, appears beneficial for depression in pediatric CF.
- The findings suggest a positive influence of antidepressants on psychological well-being in this population.
Implications:
- Further clinical trials are warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of antidepressants in CF.
- This research highlights the need for integrated mental health care in cystic fibrosis management.
- Future studies should assess long-term effects and optimal dosing for CF patients.
Objective:
Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessively inherited multi-system disorder of children and adults characterized by the obstruction and infection of airways presenting as a wide variety of symptoms. It has varying degrees of psychological impact on patients and their families, requiring numerous adjustments in their life styles. Newer sophisticated medical treatments of cystic fibrosis has led to an increase in life expectancy; however, the same kind of progress has not been made in the psychological interventions available to treat emotional disturbances.
Method:
We report three cases of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis who were diagnosed with depression and treated with a combination of antidepressant medications and other psychosocial interventions.
Results And Conclusions:
Two of the three cases suggest that treatment with antidepressant medications has a positive influence on psychological outcomes. We further propose clinical studies to test efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of these medications in patients with cystic fibrosis.
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