These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: A controlled, prospective, 1-year trial of citalopram in the treatment of panic disorder.
    Author: Lepola UM, Wade AG, Leinonen EV, Koponen HJ, Frazer J, Sjödin I, Penttinen JT, Pedersen T, Lehto HJ.
    Journal: J Clin Psychiatry; 1998 Oct; 59(10):528-34. PubMed ID: 9818634.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of citalopram in the long-term treatment of adult outpatients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. METHOD: Patients in this double-blind, parallel-group trial were assigned to 1 of 3 fixed dosage ranges of citalopram (10 or 15 mg/day, 20 or 30 mg/day, or 40 or 60 mg/day), 1 dosage range of clomipramine (60 or 90 mg/day), or placebo. After the completed 8-week acute treatment period, the eligible patients could continue the treatment for up to 1 year. Of the 475 patients who were randomly assigned for the short-term trial, 279 agreed to continue double-blind treatment at their assigned doses. The primary efficacy measure used was the Clinical Anxiety Scale panic attack item, and the response was defined as no panic attacks (score of 0 or 1). The other key measures used were the Physician's Global Improvement Scale, the Patient's Global Improvement Scale, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A). RESULTS: In all drug-treated groups, except the group receiving the lowest citalopram dose, the treatment outcome was generally better than with placebo. As determined by a life table analysis of response, the probability of response during the 12 months was significantly greater with all treatment regimens than with placebo (p < .05), with citalopram 20 or 30 mg/day demonstrating the best response. Panic attacks tended to disappear in all patients remaining in the study until the end of follow-up. Analysis of the difference in the number of patients in different treatment groups remaining in the study (perhaps the best measure of long-term efficacy) also demonstrated that the patients treated with citalopram in dosage ranges of 20 or 30 mg/day and 40 or 60 mg/day had better response than placebo-treated patients (p < .0002 and p < .004, respectively). HAM-A and Global Improvement Scale scores also showed that patients treated with active drug showed greater improvement than placebo-treated patients. All treatment groups showed no new or exceptional adverse event clusters. CONCLUSION: Citalopram in the dosage range of 20 to 60 mg/day is effective, well tolerated, and safe in the long-term treatment of patients who have panic disorder.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]