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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Relapse prevention by citalopram in SAD patients responding to 1 week of light therapy. A placebo-controlled study

AU - Martiny, K.

AU - Lunde, M.

AU - Simonsen, C.

AU - Clemmensen, L.

AU - Poulsen, D. L.

AU - Solstad, K.

AU - Bech, P.

PY - 2004/3/1

Y1 - 2004/3/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Citalopram

KW - Depression

KW - Light

KW - Psychometrics

KW - Seasonal affective disorder

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1242314700&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00256.x

DO - 10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00256.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 14984396

AN - SCOPUS:1242314700

SN - 0065-1591

VL - 109

SP - 230

EP - 234

JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Supplement

JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Supplement

IS - 3

ER -