Effect of Escitalopram vs Reboxetine on Gastro-Intestinal Sensitivity of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly have many gastrointestinal complaints. Gastrointestinal pain is classified into 2 categories: visceral and somatic pain. The main aim of this study is to compare somatic and visceral sensitivity between healthy people and pateints with MDD. These two sensitivities will be assessed by the 2 following tests: standardised rectal distension, and transdermal transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. Thereafter, patients with MDD will be randomly allocated to escitalopram or reboxetine. After 6 weeks of treatment, somatic and visceral sensitivity will be reassessed.

Official Title

Effect of Escitalopram vs. Reboxetine on Somatic and Visceral Sensitivity of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double Blind Clinical Trial.

Conditions

• Major Depression
• Pain
• Abdominal Pain

Study Type

Interventional

Study Design

Treatment, Randomised, Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study.

Further Details

Study Start

September 2005

Eligibility & Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 64 years
• Genders Eligible for Study: Both
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• MDD according with DSM-IV-TR
• Hamilton depression scale > 21

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of gastrointestinal illness
• History of escitalopram, citalopram or reboxetine allergy
• History of escitalopram, citalopram or reboxetine resistant depression
• Other axis I psychiatric disorder
• A punctuation > 2 on the suicide item of the Ham-D
• History of ECT during the past 6 months
• Pharmacological failure of the present depressive episode
• Pregnancy or nursing
• Treatment with drugs that may interact with study medication

Total Enrolment

Contact Details

Hospital Universitari vall d’Hebron
Barcelona, Catalonia
Spain, 08036