Escitalopram (Lexapro) for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

  • Tell a FriendPrint

The purpose of this study is to determine whether women with postpartum MDD will experience a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from baseline over an eight-week treatment intervention with escitalopram (Lexapro). Also, to determine whether women with postpartum MDD will experience a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms...

Brief Summary

Official Title: “Escitalopram for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression”

The purpose of this study is to determine whether women with postpartum MDD will experience a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from baseline over an eight-week treatment intervention with escitalopram (Lexapro). Also, to determine whether women with postpartum MDD will experience a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms.

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design: Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 2010

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

  • Drug: Escitalopram
    • Once daily by mouth

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

  • Experimental: Escitalopram
    • Flexible dose escitalopram 10mg

Outcome Measures for this Clinical Trial

Primary Measures

  • Clinician-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
    • Time Frame: 8 weeks
      Safety Issue?: No

Secondary Measures

  • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
    • Time Frame: 8 weeks
      Safety Issue?: No

Criteria for Participation in this Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women ages 18 to 45 years old
  • Subjects must meet criteria for a major depressive episode with symptoms developing within three month of live childbirth
  • Subjects must present within six months of childbirth
  • MADRS score >15
  • BAI score >10
  • Subjects will be able to be treated on an outpatient basis
  • Subjects will be able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects who have taken any psychotropic medication, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, within the past two weeks (with the exception of non-benzodiazepine medications used for sleep, including trazodone, zolpidem, eszopiclone, etc)
  • Suicidal ideation with active plan or intent, as determined by the investigator
  • Presence of psychotic symptoms or homicidal ideation
  • History of mania or hypomania
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Presence of chronic depression or dysthymia, or chronic or treatment resistant anxiety disorders, as determined by investigator
  • Active alcohol/substance abuse currently or within the past year
  • Abnormal TSH, severe anemia, or uncontrolled hypertension

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Female

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 45 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Clinical Trial Investigator Information

Lead Investigator: Massachusetts General Hospital Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Marlene P Freeman, MD Principal Investigator Massachusetts General Hospital  

Overall Contact: Stephanie D Connors, BS 617-724-6989 sdconnors@partners.org

Additional Information

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00833469

Study ID Number: 2008-P-001509

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00833469

Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Center for Women's Mental Health Online Resource

  • Tell a FriendPrint

Clinical Trials content is provided directly by the U.S. National Institutes of Health via ClinicalTrials.gov and is not reviewed separately by ClinicalTrialsFeeds.org. Every page of specific clinical trials information contains a unique identifier which can be used to find further details directly from the National Institutes of Health.

The URL of this page is:
http://clinicaltrialsfeeds.org/clinical-trials/show/NCT00833469