Despite common off-label use, the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa) has no effect on repetitive behavior in young patients with autism spectrum disorders, researchers said.
There was no significant difference in positive response rates between children taking citalopram or those taking placebo (32.9% versus 34.2%), Bryan H. King, M.D., of the University of Washington, and colleagues reported in the June issue of Archives of Psychiatry.
"There is a robust literature that supports the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for obsessive-compulsive disorder, so we assumed that we'd see a very positive response," Dr. King said.
Instead, he said, the results further illustrate that there is "a fairly significant placebo response rate in kids with autism who are treated with medication."