DECIFER: Depression and Citalopram In First Episode Recovery

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2018-03-26
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study seeks to examine the effectiveness of citalopram added to treatment with any oral or injectable second-generation antipsychotic plus standardized psychoeducation in first episode schizophrenia patients. Because depressive symptoms are common in first episode patients, we will test the hypothesis that adding the SSRI citalopram to a pre-established medication regimen will improve quality of life and decrease relapse and suicidality over the course of a 12-month trial.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: New York University School of Medicine; NYU Langone Health
• Collaborator: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Treatments: Citalopram; Dexetimide

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female

• Ages 16-40 years

• Schizophrenia, any subtype or Schizophreniform disorder

• Treated with any of the following second generation antipsychotics for at least 4 weeks and fewer than 16 weeks: risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, or paliperidone)

• Willing to participate in psychoeducation

• Sufficient proficiency in English to complete assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major depression by DSM-IV criteria

• Clinical Global Assessment of Severity of Suicidality of 3 (moderate) or greater.

• Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDRS) score of 7 or greater

• Serious suicide attempt within three years or ANY suicide attempt for subjects age 16-25.

• Current treatment with an MAOI or pimozide

• Active alcohol or other substance abuse or dependence within three months

• Unstable medical illness

• History of SSRI intolerance

• Pregnant or nursing

• QTc ≥ 500 msec