Escitalopram (Lexapro) for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2011-04-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether women with postpartum major depressive disorder (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.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborator: Forest Laboratories
• Treatments: Citalopram; Dexetimide

Criteria

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