title: Clinical features and efficacy of escitalopram treatment for geriatric depression.
abstract: This study investigated the psychological characteristics and clinical features of 55 patients with geriatric depression, and evaluated the efficacy and safety of escitalopram in the treatment of geriatric depression, in a randomized controlled trial. Fifty-five patients with geriatric  depression were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of escitalopram 10 mg, daily, orally (n = 29) or placebo (n = 26). At baseline, these patients had significantly higher neuroticism and psychoticism scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Adult scale than Chinese  population norms. General Severity Index scores and the mean values of the nine subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90 - Revised scale were also significantly higher in these patients than in Chinese population norms. The response rate to escitalopram after 8 weeks' treatment was 74.1%  (20/27 patients). Adverse reactions included nausea, dry mouth and dizziness. In conclusion, depressed geriatric patients were found to have abnormal personality traits, and escitalopram was efficacious and had a good safety profile in the treatment of geriatric depression.
authors: Department of Neurology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. yaomin@sanfordburnham.org
authors: Y-M
authors: YM
authors: Chen
authors: X-M
authors: XM
authors: Huang
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Thompson
authors: Y-B
authors: YB
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram