To investigate the efficacy of family therapy in the treatment of adolescent depression and improvement of social performance.

86 adolescent depressive patients were divided into drug therapy group(group A, n=43) and drug combined with family therapy group(group B, n=43) according to the order of inclusion.They were all treated for 12 weeks.Before and after the treatment, they were all evaluated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24), Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP) and Youth Self-Report scale(YSR). The changes of scores were compared with each other.

The average scores of HAMD, PSP and YSR in group B before and after treatment was (27.30±4.60) (81.47±1.87)(73.28±1.30) and (15.36±3.60)(12.61±2.10)(9.46±2.80)(6.30±2.20), (82.76±1.09)(84.51±1.32)(86.51±1.32)(92.05±1.72), (71.42±1.45)(69.09±1.33)(67.47±1.47)(64.23±1.90) respectively. The average scores of HAMD, PSP and YSR in group A before and after treatment was (26.90±5.10) (81.45±1.85)(73.26±1.28)and (19.42±2.90)(16.43±2.60)(13.50±3.80)(7.60±2.80), (82.00±1.14)(83.67±1.23)(85.88±1.27)(87.98±1.35), (72.84±1.29)(70.07±1.26)(68.84±1.54)(66.02±1.55) respectively.The difference of the scores after two-week treatment was significant statistically (P<0.05). The difference of the deduction rate of the scores after four-week treatment was significant statistically (P<0.05).

Family therapy has better and faster efficacy in the treatment of adolescent depression, and it can significantly improve their social performance.

Family therapy; Adolescent depression; Efficacy; Social performance