Safety and efficacy of s-citalopram in patients with co-morbid major depression and diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The presence of co-morbid depressive symptoms may have a negative impact on the management of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, some antidepressants may adversely affect glycemic control. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve glycemic control and may be beneficial for patients with co-morbid depression and diabetes. We examined the safety and efficacy of s-citalopram therapy in patients with co-morbid depression and diabetes, and its ability to improve glycemic control.


METHODS
17 patients were enrolled into the trial and 14 patients received open-label s-citalopram therapy for up to 16 weeks. Clinical outcome measures included the 17-item Hamilton depression rating (HAM-D 17) and the clinical global impressions severity (CGI/S) and change (CGI/C) ratings. In addition, fasting glucose, fructosamine, and glycosylated hemoglobin-A(1C) measures were obtained before and during s-citalopram therapy.


RESULTS
We observed a significant reduction in mean HAM-D 17 (p<0.001), CGI/S (p=0.001) and CGI/C (p=0.001) ratings during s-citalopram therapy. We also observed a modest, non-significant reduction in fasting glucose, fructosamine, and glycosylated hemoglobin-A(1C) levels during s-citalopram therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations of this study include a modest patient sample size and a 16-week treatment duration which may have been insufficient to demonstrate the full effect of SSRI therapy on glycemic control.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and modest, non-significant reductions in fasting glucose, fructosamine, and glycosylated hemoglobin-A(1C) levels during SSRI therapy of co-morbid depression and diabetes.
Amsterdam
Jay D
JD
Depression Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA. jamsterd@mail.med.upenn.edu
Shults
Justine
J
Rutherford
Nancy
N
Schwartz
Stanley
S
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015283:Citalopram; D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin