Escitalopram and HPA-Axis Response in Healthy Relatives of Depressed Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Ulla Knorr, Maj Vinberg, Allan Hansen, Marianne Klose, Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen, Linda Hilsted, Jørgen Hasselstrøm, Ulrik Gether, Per Winkel, Christian Gluud, Jørn Wetterslev, Lars Vedel Kessing
Primary Institution: Department of Psychiatry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hypothesis
Does long-term intervention with SSRI versus placebo affect the cortisol response in the DEX-CRH test in healthy first-degree relatives to patients with major depressive disorder?
Conclusion
The trial found no significant effect of escitalopram on the HPA-axis in healthy first-degree relatives to patients with MDD.
Supporting Evidence
- The study included 80 participants, with 36% being women and 64% men.
- No significant differences were found in hormone measures between the escitalopram and placebo groups.
- Increasing levels of escitalopram were correlated with a decrease in HPA-response.
Takeaway
The study tested if a medication called escitalopram could help people related to those with depression, but it didn't make a difference in their stress hormone levels.
Methodology
Participants were randomized to receive either escitalopram 10 mg or placebo daily for four weeks, and their cortisol response was measured using the DEX-CRH test.
Potential Biases
The study was blinded to minimize bias, but the sample size was small and the power calculations were hypothetical.
Limitations
The study did not compare healthy individuals with a family history of MDD to those without such a history.
Participant Demographics
Participants were healthy first-degree relatives of patients with MDD, aged 18-60, predominantly Caucasian.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.47
Statistical Significance
p=0.47
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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