Duloxetine in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorders: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of duloxetine in the treatment of children and adolescents with somatoform disorder. RESULTS We describe two cases, those of an 11-year old girl and a 17-year old boy, evaluated in our Department after being studied by a Pediatrician and Neuropediatrician due to complex physical symptoms. The evaluations to rule out medical causes were normal. We diagnosed somatoform disorder. The pharmacological treatments with antidepressants, benzodiazepines, stimulants and mood stabilizers only produced brief and partial improvement. After switching the treatment to duloxetine (30 and 60 mg/day, respectively) both patients experienced a gradual improvement that was maintained at 7 and 14 months. Conclusion. Duloxetine may be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of adolescents with somatoform disorder. Controlled trials are need.