Methylphenidate-enhanced antidepressant response to citalopram in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.
OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluated the potential of methylphenidate to accelerate and enhance antidepressant response to citalopram in elderly depressed patients.


METHODS
Sixteen outpatients with major depression were treated in a 10-week double-blind trial. Response was defined as a score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (24-item) of less than 10.


RESULTS
An accelerated response was observed by week 3 in five subjects receiving citalopram (CIT)+methylphenidate (MPH) and in none of those receiving CIT+placebo (PBO). Subjects receiving citalopram and methylphenidate showed a significant improvement in depressive symptoms compared with those on citalopram and placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined treatment with citalopram and methylphenidate appears to be a viable strategy for accelerating and enhancing antidepressant response in elderly depressed patients limited by tolerability and safety.
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. hlavretsky@mednet.ucla.edu
Helen
H
Lavretsky
Susan
S
Park
Prabha
P
Siddarth
Anand
A
Kumar
Charles F
CF
Reynolds
D000368:Aged; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015283:Citalopram; D008774:Methylphenidate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors