Citalopram in Real-World Depression: STAR*D Reveals 28% Remission Rate
How effective is citalopram for depression in real practice?
Yes. Citalopram is effective for depression in real practice, achieving 28-33% remission rates and 47% response rates in the STAR*D study of 2,876 patients. These rates reflect actual clinical outcomes using measurement-based care across primary care and psychiatric settings.
What the data show:
- Remission rate: 28% (HAM-D) to 33% (QIDS-SR) depending on assessment scale
- Response rate: 47% achieve ≥50% symptom reduction
- Study size: 2,876 outpatients with major depressive disorder
- Settings: Effective in both primary care and psychiatric care with no significant difference
- Mean effective dose: 41.8 mg/day over up to 14 weeks
- Mechanism: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) that increases serotonin availability in brain synapses, improving mood regulation
A comprehensive STAR*D analysis of 2,876 outpatients with major depressive disorder treated with citalopram using measurement-based care revealed remission rates of 28-33% depending on the assessment scale. This real-world effectiveness study, conducted across 23 psychiatric and 18 primary care settings, provides crucial data about citalopram’s actual performance in clinical practice.