Citalopram in the Treatment of Alcoholism: a Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study

J. Tiihonen; O.-P. Ryynänen; J. Kauhanen; H. P. A. Hakola; M. Salaspuro

doi:10.1055/s-2007-979538

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 1996; 29(1): 27-30
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979538

Original Paper

Citalopram in the Treatment of Alcoholism: a Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study

J. Tiihonen¹ , O.-P. Ryynänen² , J. Kauhanen³ , H. P. A. Hakola⁴ , M. Salaspuro⁵

¹University of Kuopio, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
²University of Kuopio, Department of Community Health and General Practice, Kuopio, Finland
³University of Kuopio, Department of Community Health and General Practice, Kuopio, Finland
⁴University of Kuopio, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
⁵University of Helsinki, Research Unit of Alcohol Diseases, Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

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Abstract

The effect of citalopram and placebo in the treatment of alcoholism was studied in a sample of 62 patients with a follow-up period of four months. The results imply that the new 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor citalopram is significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of alcoholism. The present study indicates that even severe alcoholism may be treated effectively with a generally available psychopharmacological agent.

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