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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Psychiatric Research Unit, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark. kmar@fa.dk
K
K
Martiny
M
M
Lunde
C
C
Simonsen
L
L
Clemmensen
D L
DL
Poulsen
K
K
Solstad
P
P
Bech
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors