Citalopram for Verbal Agitation in Patients with Dementia

Various behaviors can be associated with dementing disorders. Management of these behaviors is often challenging to caregivers and clinicians. Verbal agitation such as talking constantly, screaming, and repeating phrases and noises is one of the most frequently encountered behaviors in the long-term care setting. We report two cases in which verbal agitation favorably responded to citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. We also discuss some other factors possibly associated with this response. Nonetheless, citalopram appears to be an added option in the treatment of verbal agitation in demented patients. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2000; 13:53-55).