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School Phobia: A Therapeutic Trial with Clomipramine and Short-Term Outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

T. Berney
Affiliation:
Nuffield Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne
I. Kolvin*
Affiliation:
Nuffield Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne
S. R. Bhate
Affiliation:
The Nuffield Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry Unit, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
R. F. Garside
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle
J. Jeans
Affiliation:
The Nuffield Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry Unit, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
B. Kay
Affiliation:
Nuffield Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne
L. Scarth
Affiliation:
The Nuffield Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry Unit, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
*
Correspondence.

Summary

A double-blind trial failed to demonstrate any significant short-term effects of clomipramine in doses recommended for use in general practice (in addition to the usual range of psychotherapeutic help) in the treatment of children with school refusal and neurotic disorder. Patterns of improvement were also studied for the sample as a whole irrespective of treatment. Neither age nor sex were significantly related to improvement, except on one behavioural measure where girls initially did better than boys. In addition, it was found that there was a rapid relief of depression but neurotic symptomatology tended to persist.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1981 

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Footnotes

Reprint requests.

Currently: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester

Currently: Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Sunderland Childrens' Hospital

Currently: Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh

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