Int J Psychiatry Med. 2025 Apr 21:912174251337180. doi: 10.1177/00912174251337180. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical effect of sertraline combined with psychological hotline-based Naikan therapy, a structured form of self-reflection, in the treatment of adolescents with depressive disorder. Hotline-based Naikan therapy is where telephone operators who have been trained in this form of therapy help address psychological distress for callers through telephone counselling.MethodsA randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 93 adolescent outpatients with depressive disorder, with 47 participants assigned to the Combined group and 46 to the Sertraline group. Adolescents in the Sertraline group were treated with sertraline only. Adolescents in the Combined group received treatment using sertraline at the same dose as those in the Sertraline group, combined with psychological hotline-based Naikan therapy. Depression and anxiety levels in both groups were evaluated using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) at baseline and after the 2nd, 4th and 12th weeks of treatment.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the groups at baseline in terms of demographic or clinical characteristics. Participants in both the intervention and Sertraline groups reported no serious adverse reactions. By the end of the 12th week of treatment, significant between-group differences were found in the SDS and the SAS scores, favouring the combined treatment group (χ2 = 6.68, P = 0.010 and χ2 = 5.68, P = 0.017, respectively).ConclusionSertraline combined with psychological hotline-based Naikan therapy is more effective in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with depressive disorder than in those receiving sertraline alone.
PMID:40257169 | DOI:10.1177/00912174251337180
