This open-label study examined the potential efficacy of paroxetine in the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with dysthymia over a period of 3 months. Seven subjects were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), by the Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-S), and the Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-I). Seventy-one percent of patients had a satisfactory response, suggesting the efficacy of paroxetine in children with dysthymia.