Discontinuation Study Of Citalopram (Antidepressant) in Depressed Adolescents

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Status and phase

Withdrawn

Phase 3

Conditions

Major Depression

Treatments

Drug: Citalopram

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00249886

ISRCTN42386710

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether it is advantageous for adolescents who have recovered from depression after a 6 to 12 week course of antidepressant treatment to stay on the treatment a further 6 months or is it just as helpful to stop the medication after recovery.

The hypothesis is that adolescents with major depression who recover from the 6 to 12 week trial of citalopram will be less likely to have a recurrence of depression over a 6 month period if continued on the citalopram as compared to those who discontinue the medication.

Sex

All

Ages

13 to 18 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of major Depression.
Age 13-18.
A score of > 16 on the 17 item Hamilton Depression Scale or a score of > 12 on the 17 items plus a score of >7 on the atypical items.
Males and females.
Outpatient at initiation of double blind treatment phase.
Ability to give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Past or current hypomanic or manic episode.
Currently meets criteria for a Conduct Disorder.
Current psychotic symptoms.
Substance dependence in the last 3 months.
Significant medical condition that would contraindicate the use of an antidepressant.
Pregnancy
Past treatment with Citalopram for major depression