title: An open trial of citalopram in children and adolescents with depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to collect pilot data on the magnitude of effect and tolerability of citalopram in early-onset major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in two academic child and adolescent psychiatric clinics (2000 through 2002). Thirty children and adolescents, 8-17 years of age (mean age, 13.57 +/- 2.5), of both sexes (53.3% girls; 46.7% boys) and diagnosed with MDD by means of clinical psychiatric evaluation, Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria, were studied in an open-label clinical trial with 10-40 mg/day of citalopram for 6 weeks. The outcome measures were the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Children Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), and the New York State Psychiatric Institute side-effect form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate (50%-70% change in HDRS and CGAS) to large (> 70% change in HDRS and CGAS) effect were seen in 91.7% of children (22/24). There were significant changes on HDRS (X = 22.78; t = -14.12; p < 0.000) and CGAS (X = 26.02; t = 9.68; p < 0.000) between baseline and the 6th week. Mild side effects were reported in 2 patients (8.3%). Adverse effects that contributed to discontinuation were nausea and vomiting in 3.3% (n = 1) of patients and unexpectedly switching to mania in 16.7% (n = 5) of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Citalopram may be an efficatious treatment in early-onset MDD. However, the high switch rate to mania warrants further investigations, as well as cautions, in using it.
authors.affiliation: Unit on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Iran Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alaghband-Rad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram