TY - JOUR
T1 - Imipramine treatment in pediatric burn patients with symptoms of acute stress disorder
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Robert, Rhonda
AU - Blakeney, Patricia E.
AU - Villarreal, Cynthia
AU - Rosenberg, Laura
AU - Meyer, Walter J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Accepted December 29, 1999. Drs. Robert, Blakeney, and Meyer and Mi. Villarreal are with both the Shriners Burns Hospital and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Dr. Rosenberg is with Shriners Burns Hospital. This project was funded by the International Association of Firejghters Research Grant Program and the University of Texas Medical Branch Small Grants Program. Reprint requests to Dr. Robert, Shriners Burns Hospital, 815 Market Street, Galveston, 7x 77550.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Objective: Pediatric burn patients often exhibit acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms. Information on psychopharmacological treatment of ASD symptoms in children is scarce. This pilot study used a prospective, randomized, double-blind design to test whether thermally injured children suffering ASD symptoms benefit from imipramine. Method: Twenty-five children, aged 2 to 19 years, received either imipramine or chloral hydrate for 7 days. A structured interview (clinically useful, but validity and reliability not yet established) was used to assess the presence and frequency of ASD symptoms both before treatment and 3 times during the treatment period. Results: Eleven females and 14 males participated, with a mean total burn surface area of 45% (SD = 23%) and mean age of 8 years (SD = 6). Imipramine was more effective than chloral hydrate in treating ASD symptoms (χ2 [1, N = 25] = 5.24, p < .02). Five of 13 were positive responders to chloral hydrate (38%). Ten of 12 were positive responders to low-dose imipramine (83%). Conclusions: This pilot study suggests a place for cautious initial use of imipramine to reduce ASD symptoms in burned children. Care must be taken to minimize cardiovascular risks in an off-label application of imipramine in children, especially those receiving additional medications.
AB - Objective: Pediatric burn patients often exhibit acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms. Information on psychopharmacological treatment of ASD symptoms in children is scarce. This pilot study used a prospective, randomized, double-blind design to test whether thermally injured children suffering ASD symptoms benefit from imipramine. Method: Twenty-five children, aged 2 to 19 years, received either imipramine or chloral hydrate for 7 days. A structured interview (clinically useful, but validity and reliability not yet established) was used to assess the presence and frequency of ASD symptoms both before treatment and 3 times during the treatment period. Results: Eleven females and 14 males participated, with a mean total burn surface area of 45% (SD = 23%) and mean age of 8 years (SD = 6). Imipramine was more effective than chloral hydrate in treating ASD symptoms (χ2 [1, N = 25] = 5.24, p < .02). Five of 13 were positive responders to chloral hydrate (38%). Ten of 12 were positive responders to low-dose imipramine (83%). Conclusions: This pilot study suggests a place for cautious initial use of imipramine to reduce ASD symptoms in burned children. Care must be taken to minimize cardiovascular risks in an off-label application of imipramine in children, especially those receiving additional medications.
KW - Acute stress disorder
KW - Imipramine
KW - Medication therapy
KW - Pharmacotherapy
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
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U2 - 10.1097/00004583-199907000-00018
DO - 10.1097/00004583-199907000-00018
M3 - Article
C2 - 10405506
AN - SCOPUS:0033065691
SN - 0890-8567
VL - 38
SP - 873
EP - 882
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 7
ER -