Clinical Trial of Citalopram for Alcohol Dependence

Medication Trial – Do Anti-depressant medications improve outcomes in the treatment of Alcoholism? 

This study examined the effects of an anti-depressant medication Citalopram in depressed and non-depressed alcoholics entering addiction treatment.  Following an extensive baseline assessment, including an evaluation of depression status, and collection of blood samples for the determination of serotonin (5HT) parameters (5HT transporter polymorphism), patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or citalopram (40 mg) in conjunction with a 12-week course of standard addiction treatment. Outcome is being examined in relation to both clinical variables (e.g. family history) and biological variables (e.g. 5HT uptake, genotypes) at intake.

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