Emerging mania following escitalopram withdrawal in a patient with unipolar depression managed with its reintroduction.
Discontinuation or withdrawal symptoms have been documented for all major classes of antide- pressants, especially the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It has been reported that an antidepressant withdrawal syndrome may induce manic states in patients treated for major depression, even in the absence of a history of bipolar disorder. We report the case of a young woman with unipolar depression who developed a manic state after abrupt discontinuation of lowdose escitalopram. This manic state remitted when escitalopram was reintroduced within a week after the interruption of treatment.
DE BERARDIS and MARINI: Hospital "G. Mazzini," ASL 4 Teramo, Italy, and University "G. D'Annunzio," Chieti; SERRONI: Hospital "G. Mazzini," ASL 4 Teramo; FORNARO: University of Catania; VALCHERA: Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno; MARTINOTTI and DI GIANNANTONIO: University "G. D'Annunzio," Chieti; KAHN: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Domenico
D
DE Berardis
Nicola
N
Serroni
Stefano
S
Marini
Michele
M
Fornaro
Alessandro
A
Valchera
Giovanni
G
Martinotti
Massimo
M
DI Giannantonio
David A
DA
Kahn
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors