Relapse prevention by citalopram in SAD patients responding to 1 week of light therapy. A placebo-controlled study

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. 230 - 234
• Main Authors: Martiny, K., Lunde, M., Simonsen, C., Clemmensen, L., Poulsen, D. L., Solstad, K., Bech, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.03.2004; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; citalopram; Citalopram - therapeutic use; depression; Female; Humans; light; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phototherapy; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; psychometrics; Psychopharmacology; seasonal affective disorder; Seasonal Affective Disorder - prevention & control; Seasonal Affective Disorder - psychology; Seasonal Affective Disorder - therapy; Secondary Prevention; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Time Factors; Mood disorder; Human; Relapse; Serotonin; Psychotropic; Treatment efficiency; Depression; Reuptake inhibitor; Citalopram; Phototherapy; Prevention; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Follow up study; Seasonal variation; Maintenance treatment; Antidepressant agent; Remission
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 1600-0447
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00256.x

Objective:  We have tested the relapse‐preventive effect of citalopram when compared with placebo in 282 patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) responding to 1 week of light therapy. Method:  The response rate to 1‐week light therapy and relapse during the continuation phase of 15 weeks were assessed by use of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D17), the six‐item subscale (HAM‐D6), the Melancholia Scale (MES), and the combined HAM‐D/SIGH‐SAD. Results:  The response rate to light therapy was 62.5% on the HAM‐D17 and the HAM‐D6, 56.1% on the HAM‐D/SIGH‐SAD, 52.8% on the MES. In the continuation phase, citalopram was found superior to placebo on all scales, but the difference was only of statistical significance on the HAM‐D6 and the MES. Mean citalopram dose was 26.3 mg. Conclusion:  Light therapy was found to have and early onset of action. On the HAM‐D6 and the MES citalopram significantly reduced the relapse rate in the continuation phase.