title: An open-label study of citalopram in the treatment of pathological gambling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the effectiveness of citalopram in the treatment of pathological gambling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen adult pathological gamblers (DSM-IV criteria) were administered citalopram in an open-label fashion for up to 12 weeks. Subjects were rated at baseline and at 2-week intervals on measures of gambling severity and depression, and monthly on quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported significant (p < .05) improvements on all gambling measures including the number of days gambled, the amount of money lost gambling, preoccupation with gambling, and urges to gamble. Thirteen (86.7%) of the patients were rated as "much improved" or "very much improved" on a clinician-rated Clinical Global Impressions scale for gambling. Patients reported improvement in depression and overall quality of life. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (N = 8) improved to approximately the same degree as patients without MDD (N = 7). For most patients, clinical improvement occurred during the first 2 weeks of treatment; for the 9 patients who completed the entire 12-week trial, these gains were maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Citalopram appears to be an effective treatment for pathological gambling, and this benefit was independent of its antidepressant properties. Future studies employing a control group will be important to examine the extent of the response to nonspecific factors of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Posternak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors