Sub-chronic administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram in healthy volunteers: drug initiation effects and the role of serotonin in experimental anxiety.

The effect in healthy volunteers of administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram (10 mg/day for 3 weeks) vs. placebo on drug initiation effects and experimentally-induced anxiety.

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12609000011280

Enrollment

Registered

2009-01-08

Start date

2008-08-10

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors seen when used to treat anxiety are related to the drug, or to the fact that the people have an anxiety disorder. We expect that we will see "jitteriness" when healthy volunteers start taking the medication, and that the medication will reduce anxiety brought on by an experimental challenge in people who do not have an anxiety disorder.

Interventions

escitalopram (10 mg/day for 3 weeks, oral) tryptophan depletion

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

healthy volunteer no current or previous history of anxiety, depression or mental illness

Exclusion criteria

current or past mental illness current or past use of SSRI medication pregnant/breastfeeding serious medical condition history of head injury history of drug abuse/dependence

Outcome results