Antidepressant Treatment at an Inner City Asthma Clinic

Summary

Asthma is common with an increasing prevalence and mortality especially in low-income and minority populations. The course of asthma appears to be influenced by mood and emotions. It has been reported that there is a high prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms in both children and adults with asthma. Despite data on the frequency of depression in asthma and its adverse consequences, it is generally not recognized or treated. Brown et al. conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of citalopram in 90 outpatients with asthma and MDD. Citalopram therapy was associated with lower depression scores, numerically greater rates of remission of depressive symptoms, and less oral corticosteroid use than placebo. The investigators proposed study is different. The investigators observed a modest difference between antidepressant and placebo in the prior trial. However, in a subgroup with more severe asthma (based on frequent corticosteroid use) and more severe depression (based on higher depressive symptoms scores) the investigators saw a much larger effect size. Standard of care for severe asthma is aggressive asthma treatment. The investigators study does not require any changes in the patient's asthma treatment. No guidelines are currently available on the treatment of depression in asthma patients. Standard care for depression would be antidepressants.

Conditions

• Depression
• Asthma

Interventions

DRUG

High severity group: Escitalopram

Participants within high severity group were stratified to receive escitalopram.

DRUG

High severity group: Placebo

Participants within high severity group were stratified to receive placebo (inactive ingredient matching the active medication in appearance).

DRUG

Low severity group: Escitalopram

Participants within low severity group were stratified to receive escitalopram.

DRUG

Low severity group: Placebo

Participants within low severity group were stratified to receive placebo (inactive ingredient matching the active medication in appearance).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sherwood Brown, MD, PhD · UT Southwestern Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-07-31

Primary Completion

2015-05-31

Completion

2015-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations