Evaluating the Effectiveness of Escitalopram to Prevent Depression in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Treatment

Phase 4 Completed 160 enrolled University of Nebraska National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · collab

RandomizedParallel-groupQuadruple-blindPrevention

Summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of escitalopram to prevent depression in head and neck cancer patients receiving treatment.

Timeline

Start: 2007-12-01
Primary completion: 2012-06-01
Completion: 2012-06-01

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper Significantly fewer patients receiving escitalopram developed depression (24.6% in the placebo group vs 10.0% in the escitalopram group; stratified log-rank test, P = .04). PMID 23788218 ↗

Publications

Results Lydiatt WM, Bessette D, Schmid KK, Sayles H, Burke WJ. Prevention of depression with escitalopram in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Jul;139(7):678-86. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2013.3371.
Vita G, Compri B, Matcham F, Barbui C, Ostuzzi G. Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Mar 31;3(3):CD011006. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011006.pub4.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Escitalopram	Small molecule	20 mg	—