Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Depression MS or ALS
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00965497 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 25, 2009
Results First Posted : September 7, 2011
Last Update Posted : May 1, 2019
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Major Depression Multiple Sclerosis Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Drug: escitalopram | Phase 3 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 13 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | An Open-label, 8- Week, Flexible Dose Trial of Escitalopram (Lexapro®) in Comorbid Major Depression With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis |
Study Start Date : | July 2009 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Escitalopram
All patients will receive escitalopram 20 mg daily.
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Drug: escitalopram
After confirmation of diagnoses and safety screening escitalopram will be started at 10 mg per day and augmented weekly in 10 mg per day increments, the maximum dose being 20 mg per day. The dose will be titrated upward or downward based on clinical response and tolerability. No other psychotropic medications will be permitted during the study. Medications for coexisting medical problems (e.g. hypertension) will be permitted. Study visits will include weekly visits for first 2 weeks and biweekly visits for next 6 weeks. Medications will be dispensed weekly or biweekly and the participants will be followed for 8 weeks.
Other Name: Lexapro |
- Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D 17). [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAM-D) is a 17-item observer rated scale that measures depressive symptoms. Items are rated 0 (no symptoms)-4 ( most severe symptoms. Possible minimum and maximum scores range is 0-50. total score indications: 0-7 = Normal; 8-13 = Mild Depression; 14-18 = Moderate Depression; 19-22 = Severe Depression and ≥ 23 = Very Severe Depression.
- McGill Quality of Life Scale (MQOL) [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]McGill Quality of Life Scale is a a 20-item scale measuring quality of life in chronic and end of life conditions. MQOL is self-reported with a 2-day time frame. Items are scored 0 (worst) to 10 (excellent)on five domains (physical well-being, physical symptoms, psychological, existential, and support). An overall index score can be calculated from the means of the five sub-scales measuring quality of life from 0 (poor) to 10 (excellent).

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
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.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00965497
United States, South Carolina | |
University of South Carolina School of Medicine | |
Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 20203 |
Principal Investigator: | Meera Narasimhan, MD | University of South Carolina School of Medicine |
Publications:
Responsible Party: | Meera Narasimhan, Professor, University of South Carolina |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00965497 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Pro00003013 |
First Posted: | August 25, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | September 7, 2011 |
Last Update Posted: | May 1, 2019 |
Last Verified: | August 2011 |
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS Multiple Sclerosis MS Major Depression |
Depression Major Depressive Disorder antidepressants Escitalopram Lexapro |
Citalopram Multiple Sclerosis Motor Neuron Disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Sclerosis Depression Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Pathologic Processes Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Nervous System Diseases |
Demyelinating Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases TDP-43 Proteinopathies Proteostasis Deficiencies Metabolic Diseases Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Neurotransmitter Agents |