Citalopram in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open pilot study.

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder, which often causes significant impairment of the affected individual's social, occupational or interpersonal functioning. Previous reports suggest that the disorder may be treated with the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine, and also with the more recently introduced selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline and paroxetine. The present 24-week open pilot study was designed to examine the efficacy, appropriate dose range, side-effects and clinical usefulness of citalopram in OCD. A total of 29 OCD patients were included in the study, of whom 76% showed alleviation of symptoms as evaluated by various self- and observer-rated scales, such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. In most cases the citalopram doses used were in most cases 40 or 60 mg daily, and the treatment was well tolerated. The most commonly experienced adverse events during the study were nausea, vomiting, increased dreaming and decreased sleep. Diminished sexual desire and orgasmic dysfunction were also reported. Despite having the limitations of an open study, our results suggest that citalopram may be effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Authors: H Koponen, U Lepola, E Leinonen, R Jokinen, J Penttinen, J Turtonen
• Journal: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica (Acta Psychiatr Scand) Vol. 96 Issue 5 Pg. 343-6 (Nov 1997) ISSN: 0001-690X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9395151 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Citalopram

Topics

• Adult
• Citalopram (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Personality Inventory
• Pilot Projects
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome