Escitalopram has been approved by FDA in the treatment of adolescents with major depressive disorder since March 2009. To date, there are only 3 clinical trials assessing the effect and validity of escitalopram on major depressive disorder, which of them has resulted in inconsistent findings. In the present study, the authors aimed to assess the effect and validity of this drug in the treatment of adolescents with major depressive disorder and or anxiety disorders.
Escitalopram has been approved by FDA in the treatment of adolescents with major depressive disorder since March 2009. Although Wagner and colleagues reported that escitalopram has a tendency toward positive findings for the treatment of pediatric patients with major depressive disorder in their study it was found that this effect has not reached a statistical significance. Noteworthy the authors reported statistical significance for escitalopram when they only included adolescent subgroup into further analysis. However, there are also clinical trials in the literature reporting the effectiveness of escitalopram on adolescence major depressive disorder (Emslie, Findling). It was indicated that no serious adverse effect of escitalopram was reported in these studies comparing escitalopram with placebo. In this study the authors aimed to investigate the effect and reliability of the drug in the treatment of adolescents with major depressive disorder and/or anxiety disorders. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRIs are indicated for the first-line treatment of anxiety disorders. The authors included escitalopram for the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Escitalopram treatment will be given to the arms with a starting dose of 2.5 mg day. The treatment dose will be gradually increased up to 20 mg day (if necessary) and the maximal treatment dose was determined as 30 mg day in each group.
ErzurumRTRH
Erzurum, Palandöken, Turkey (Türkiye)
Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)
The authors will compare 3-time points of the treatment in the study. The first assessment point will be the starting point of the study and the other ones are 2nd and 6th months of the treatment course. Total scores of the CGI scale of the 3-time points will be recorded. Change in the scores of the starting point and 2nd month of the treatment will be compared. A decrease in the CGI score at the 2nd month of the treatment with a percentage of 50% or above will be considered as positive treatment response. The CGI score at the 6th month of the study with a result of 2 points or below will be accepted as remission.
Time frame: will be assessed in the 1st, 2nd and 6th month of the treatment.
The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
The authors will compare 3-time points of the treatment in the study. The first assessment point will be the starting point of the study and the other ones are 2nd and 6th months of the treatment course. Total scores of the Hamilton Depression scale of the 3-time points will be recorded. Change in the scores of the starting point and 2nd month of the treatment will be compared. A decrease in the Hamilton Depression scale score at the 2nd month of the treatment with a percentage of 50% or above will be considered as positive treatment response. Any scores on the Hamilton Depression scale below 8 points at the 6th month of treatment course will be accepted as remission.
Time frame: will be assessed in the 1st, 2nd and 6th month of the treatment in major depressive disorder arm.
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
The authors will compare 3-time points of the treatment in the study. The first assessment point will be the starting point of the study and the other ones are 2nd and 6th months of the treatment course. Total scores of the Hamilton Anxiety scale of the 3-time points will be recorded. Change in the scores of the starting point and 2nd month of the treatment will be compared. A decrease in the Hamilton Anxiety score at the 2nd month of the treatment with a percentage of 50% or above will be considered as positive treatment response. Any scores on the Hamilton Anxiety scale below 15 points at the 6th month of treatment course will be accepted as remission.
Time frame: will be assessed in the 1st, 2nd and 6th month of the treatment in anxiety disorders arm.
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