BACKGROUND: This open-label pilot study investigated whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder with frequent psychiatric comorbidity. METHOD: Fifteen patients meeting Rome I criteria for IBS were administered open-label citalopram (20-40 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The study was conducted from October 2000 to August 2001. RESULTS: Twelve (80%) of the 15 subjects reported a > or = 50% decrease in the presence of abdominal pain, 10 (67%) reported a > or = 50% reduction in the severity of the symptom, and 12 (80%) reported a > or = 50% reduction in the frequency of the symptom. Approximately one half of the patients met criteria for remission (> or = 70% improvement) of abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Results of this pilot study suggest that large controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of SSRIs such as citalopram for the treatment of IBS.
BACKGROUND: This open-label pilot study investigated whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder with frequent psychiatric comorbidity. METHOD: Fifteen patients meeting Rome I criteria for IBS were administered open-label citalopram (20-40 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The study was conducted from October 2000 to August 2001. RESULTS: Twelve (80%) of the 15 subjects reported a > or = 50% decrease in the presence of abdominal pain, 10 (67%) reported a > or = 50% reduction in the severity of the symptom, and 12 (80%) reported a > or = 50% reduction in the frequency of the symptom. Approximately one half of the patients met criteria for remission (> or = 70% improvement) of abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Results of this pilot study suggest that large controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of SSRIs such as citalopram for the treatment of IBS.
Authors: Prakash S Masand; Sanjay Gupta; Thomas L Schwartz; David Kaplan; Subhdeep Virk; Ahmad Hameed; Kari Lockwood Journal: Psychosomatics Date: 2002 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.386
Authors: Gary Tabas; Mary Beaves; Jiping Wang; Paul Friday; Houssam Mardini; George Arnold Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: David M Marks; Changsu Han; Stan Krulewicz; Chi-Un Pae; Kathleen Peindl; Ashwin A Patkar; Prakash S Masand Journal: Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2008
Authors: Lisa Ruepert; A Otto Quartero; Niek J de Wit; Geert J van der Heijden; Gregory Rubin; Jean Wm Muris Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2011-08-10