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A study has found long-term benefits of psychiatric treatments for teenagers with depression.

465 teenagers in England were included in the research, led by Professor Peter Fonagy from Õ¬ÄÐÊÓƵ Psychoanalysis Unit. The teenagers were randomly assigned to one of three treatments; cognitive behavior therapy; short-term psychoanalytic therapy; or a brief psychosocial intervention.

The study found that 70% of participants improved significantly, regardless of which approach they were assigned to. Depression symptoms declined by 50% in those who did benefit.

"This is very promising, and shows that at least two-thirds of teenagers may benefit from these psychiatric treatments, which in theory reduce the risk of recurrence," said Peter Fonagy of the Anna Freud Centre and UCL.

• Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology