Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Depression MS or ALS

University of South Carolina

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Major Depression; Multiple Sclerosis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Treatments: Drug: escitalopram

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00965497

Pro00003013

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to see if escitalopram (Lexapro) improves symptoms of major depressive disorder in patients who have ALS or MS.

Full description

This eight-week study aims to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of escitalopram in improving symptoms of Major Depression in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as measured by the HAM-D. In addition, the study will assess improvement in the quality of life in patients with Major Depression and ALS or MS.

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients between 18 and 70 years of age with documented ALS or MS,
• DSM-IV episode of non-psychotic Major Depression,
• ≥14 score on the 17-item HAM-D,
• Ability to give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• History of psychotic disorders,
• Psychotic depression,
• Bipolar depression,
• Suicide risk,
• History of substance abuse in the previous 6 months,
• History of unstable medical disorders,
• Pregnancy or planning for pregnancy,
• Severity of ALS or MS that limits participating in the study protocol.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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13 participants in 1 patient group

Escitalopram

Experimental group

Description:

All patients will receive escitalopram 20 mg daily.

Treatment:

Drug: escitalopram