Skip to main page content

• HOME
• Current
• Archive
• Feedback
• Subscribe
• Help

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by HOCHSTRASSER, B. Articles by NIL, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by HOCHSTRASSER, B. Articles by NIL, R.

Prophylactic effect of citalopram in unipolar, recurrent depression

Placebo-controlled study of maintenance therapy

Privatklinik, Meiringen, Switzerland

P.M. ISAKSEN, MD

Haukeland sykehus, Psykiatrisk klinikk, Bergen, Norway

H. KOPONEN, PhD

Department of Geropsychiatry, Moisio Hospital, Mikkeli, Finland

L. LAURITZEN, MD

Hillerød Hospital, Psykiatrisk afd. P, Hillerød, Denmark

F.A. MAHNERT, MD

Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie, Graz, Austria

F. ROUILLON, MD

Service de Psychiatrie Hôpital Albert Chenevier, Creteil, France

A.G. WADE, MD

Community Pharmacology Services Ltd, Glasgow, UK

M. ANDERSEN, MSc, S.F. PEDERSEN, MSc, J.C.G. DE SWART, MSc and R. NIL, PhD

International Clinical Research, H. Lundbeck A/S, Valby, Denmark

Correspondence: B. Hochstrasser, Privatklinik, CH-3860 Meiringen, Switzerland

Declaration of interest Funded by H.Lundbeck A/S.

See editorial, pp. 294–295, this issue.

Background Major depression is highly recurrent. Antidepressant maintenance treatment has proven efficacy against recurrent depression.

Aims Comparison of prophylactic efficacy of citalopram versus placebo in unipolar, recurrent depression.

Methods Patients 18-65 years of age with recurrent unipolar major depression (DSM-IV), a Montgomery—sberg Depression Rating Scale score of 22 and two or more previous depressive episodes, one within the past 5 years, were treated openly with citalopram (20-60 mg) for 6-9 weeks and, if responding, continued for 16 weeks before being randomised to double-blind maintenance treatment with citalopram or placebo for 48-77 weeks.

Results A total of 427 patients entered acute treatment and 269 were randomised to double-blind treatment. Time to recurrence was longer in patients taking citalopram than in patients taking placebo (P<0.001). Prophylactic treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions Citalopram (20, 40 and 60 mg) is effective in the prevention of depressive recurrences. Patients at risk should continue maintenance treatment at the dose necessary to resolve symptoms in the acute treatment phase.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Gartlehner, B. N. Gaynes, R. A. Hansen, P. Thieda, A. DeVeaugh-Geiss, E. E. Krebs, C. G. Moore, L. Morgan, and K. N. Lohr Comparative Benefits and Harms of Second-Generation Antidepressants: Background Paper for the American College of Physicians Ann Intern Med, November 18, 2008; 149(10): 734 - 750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Hansen, B. Gaynes, P. Thieda, G. Gartlehner, A. Deveaugh-Geiss, E. Krebs, and K. Lohr Meta-analysis of Major Depressive Disorder Relapse and Recurrence With Second-Generation Antidepressants Psychiatr Serv, October 1, 2008; 59(10): 1121 - 1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Frank, D. J. Kupfer, D. J. Buysse, H. A. Swartz, P. A. Pilkonis, P. R. Houck, P. Rucci, D. M. Novick, V. J. Grochocinski, and D. M. Stapf Randomized Trial of Weekly, Twice-Monthly, and Monthly Interpersonal Psychotherapy as Maintenance Treatment for Women With Recurrent Depression Focus, January 1, 2008; 6(1): 120 - 127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Frank, D. J. Kupfer, D. J. Buysse, H. A. Swartz, P. A. Pilkonis, P. R. Houck, P. Rucci, D. M. Novick, V. J. Grochocinski, and D. M. Stapf Randomized Trial of Weekly, Twice-Monthly, and Monthly Interpersonal Psychotherapy as Maintenance Treatment for Women With Recurrent Depression Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2007; 164(5): 761 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Lustman, R. E. Clouse, B. D. Nix, K. E. Freedland, E. H. Rubin, J. B. McGill, M. M. Williams, A. J. Gelenberg, P. S. Ciechanowski, and I. B. Hirsch Sertraline for Prevention of Depression Recurrence in Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 63(5): 521 - 529. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. F. Reynolds III, M. A. Dew, B. G. Pollock, B. H. Mulsant, E. Frank, M. D. Miller, P. R. Houck, S. Mazumdar, M. A. Butters, J. A. Stack, et al. Maintenance treatment of major depression in old age. N. Engl. J. Med., March 16, 2006; 354(11): 1130 - 1138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-P. Lepine, V. Caillard, J.-C. Bisserbe, S. Troy, J.-M. Hotton, P. Boyer, and For the PREVERS Investigators A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Sertraline for Prophylactic Treatment of Highly Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2004; 161(5): 836 - 842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. KLYSNER, J. BENT-HANSEN, H. L. HANSEN, M. LUNDE, E. PLEIDRUP, D. L. POULSEN, M. ANDERSEN, and H. E. H. PETERSEN Efficacy of citalopram in the prevention of recurrent depression in elderly patients: placebo-controlled study of maintenance therapy The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2002; 181(1): 29 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. YOUNG Recurrent unipolar depression requires prolonged treatment The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2001; 178(4): 294 - 295. [Full Text] [PDF]