Citalopram in the treatment of women with chronic pelvic pain: an open-label trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of citalopram in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain by measuring changes in pain severity, depressive symptoms and functional disability.


METHODS
Fourteen women between 18 and 50 years of age with chronic pelvic pain were enrolled in a 12-week, open-label, flexible-dose study. Following a single-blind washout, placebo nonresponders were treated with citalopram (20-60 mg/d).


RESULTS
Twelve patients completed the study. Depression scores decreased significantly on the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression (p = 0.006), pain severity showed a trend toward improvement on the McGill Pain Intensity Scale (p = 0.096), but there was no significant differences on the Pain Disability Index (p = 0.158). Eleven of 12 (91.7%) patients elected to continue taking citalopram after study completion.


CONCLUSIONS
Citalopram is effective in reducing depressive symptoms, shows a statistical trend toward improvement in pain intensity in women with chronic pelvic pain and is well tolerated. It appears minimally effective in reducing disability. Larger, controlled studies are needed to evaluate the role of citalopram in treating chronic pelvic pain.
Brown
Candace S
CS
Department of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA. csbrown@utmem.edu
Franks
Andrea S
AS
Wan
Jim
J
Ling
Frank W
FW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram