[Citalopram (Cipramil) in monotherapy of depressed outpatients]

Citalopram at a dose of 20 mg was used as monotherapy in the treatment of 91 outpatients with depression mostly of moderate intensity. The duration of treatment was 2 months. Patients were assessed by Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) before, after 1st and 2nd months of therapy. Twenty three patients were additionally rated after 2 weeks. Observed and spontaneously adverse events were also recorded. A large proportion of treated patients (75%) showed full or almost full remission (1 or 2 on CGI) at the end of study. There were only few mainly mild adverse events during treatment. Nausea (7.7%) and headache (3.3%) occurred most often. The author conclude that citalopram is a well-tolerated and efficacious antidepressant drug for outpatients.