Premium
Relapse prevention by citalopram in SAD patients responding to 1 week of light therapy. A placebo‐controlled study
Author(s) -
Martiny K.,
Lunde M.,
Simonsen C.,
Clemmensen L.,
Poulsen D. L.,
Solstad K.,
Bech P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00256.x
Subject(s) - citalopram , placebo , melancholia , light therapy , psychology , rating scale , medicine , psychiatry , antidepressant , developmental psychology , anxiety , cognition , alternative medicine , pathology , mood
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‐D 17 ), the six‐item subscale (HAM‐D 6 ), the Melancholia Scale (MES), and the combined HAM‐D/SIGH‐SAD. Results: The response rate to light therapy was 62.5% on the HAM‐D 17 and the HAM‐D 6 , 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‐D 6 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‐D 6 and the MES citalopram significantly reduced the relapse rate in the continuation phase.