Citalopram as adjunctive therapy in bipolar depression
by
Kupfer DJ, Chengappa KN, Gelenberg AJ, Hirschfeld RM,
Goldberg JF, Sachs GS, Grochocinski VJ, Houck PR, Kolar AB.
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,
PA 15213, USA.
kupferdj@msx.upmc.edu
J Clin Psychiatry 2001 Dec;62(12):985-90

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The treatment of bipolar depression remains a major clinical challenge. The effectiveness and safety of adjunctive citalopram were evaluated in DSM-IV-diagnosed bipolar depressed patients in a 5-site study. METHOD: The treatment strategy consisted of an open-label add-on design in which patients received 8 weeks of acute treatment with citalopram adjunctive to their ongoing treatment with mood stabilizers. Ongoing treatment with 1 antipsychotic, 1 anxiolytic, and 1 hypnotic agent was permitted. Responders to the 8-week trial then received 16 weeks of additional treatment with citalopram. RESULTS: Forty-five subjects entered the trial; 12 dropped out before the end of the acute treatment phase. Of the 33 patients who completed the acute treatment phase, 64% (N = 21) were responders and 36% (N = 12) were nonresponders. In the continuation phase of the study, 14 patients achieved sustained remission, 3 patients did not achieve remission before completing 16 weeks of continuation treatment, 2 patients experienced a relapse, and 2 patients dropped out of the study and did not have a chance to remit. In spite of the extensive concomitant medication usage allowed in this study, citalopram treatment was well tolerated and the level of reported adverse events (including headache, nausea, diarrhea, and sexual dysfunction) relatively low. CONCLUSION: The high response rate, the high rate of sustained remission, and the low rate of adverse events strongly support the use of citalopram as a treatment for bipolar I or II depression. These findings should stimulate a controlled double-blind trial to demonstrate even more clearly the usefulness of this drug in the therapeutic regimen for bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder
Alcohol and citalopram
Citalopram and ecstasy
SSRIs and panic disorder
Citalopram and selegiline
Citalopram v amitriptyline
Citalopram and depression
Citalopram and panic disorder
Serotonin and romantic lovers
Citalopram and eating disorders
Citalopram maintenance therapy
Citalopram and depression: trials
Citalopram: oral versus intravenous
Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil) for binge-eaters
Citalopram for adolescents with major depression

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