Brain Effects of Escitalopram and Citalopram Using fMRI

June 16, 2015 updated by: Michael Henry, MD

A Comparison of the CNS Effects of Equivalent Doses of Escitalopram and Racemic Citalopram Using BOLD fMRI

Escitalopram (Lexapro) and citalopram (Celexa) are similar selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that alter blood flow to the amygdala and other brain structures involved in regulating mood. Escitalopram consists of S-citalopram while citalopram contains both S-citalopram and R-citalopram (racemic citalopram). There is evidence that R-citalopram may block the effects of S-citalopram. The hypothesis being tested is that because of the antagonist effect of R-citalopram, S-citalopram will have a greater effect on the mood circuit than racemic citalopram when equal doses of S-citalopram are administered. The study design consists of a two week medication period followed by blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing affective visual stimuli.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
27

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02135
        • Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 50 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy male aged 21 to 50 years.
  • Capable of providing informed consent.
  • Has an established residence and phone.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for an Axis I or II disorder.
  • History of substance dependence or abuse within the past month.
  • Use of NSAID's, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, lithium or other medication which in the opinion of the investigator would alter vascular responsivity.
  • Regular use of sedative hypnotic or narcotic medication, or other medication that might affect the individual's perception of visual stimuli.
  • History of cataracts or significant visual impairment.
  • A medical condition, which in the opinion of the investigator is likely to affect the individual's perception of the visual stimuli or vascular response.
  • Participation in a research protocol that included administration of medication within the past 3 months.
  • Cigarette smoking.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
  • Masking: TRIPLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Escitalopram
One week of escitalopram at 10 mg followed by one week at 20 mg in healthy volunteers.
Drug: Escitalopram
One week of escitalopram taken orally at 10 mg followed by one week at 20 mg daily.
Other Names:
  • Lexapro
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Citalopram
One week of citalopram at 20 mg followed by one week at 40 mg in healthy volunteers.
Drug: Citalopram
One week of citalopram taken orally at 20 mg followed by one week at 40 mg daily.
Other Names:
  • Celexa
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo
Two weeks of placebo in healthy volunteers.
Drug: Placebo
Two weeks of placebo taken orally.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Escitalopram Compared With Citalopram When Happy and Fearful Faces Are Presented in a Rapid Covert Stimulus Presentation.
Time Frame: two weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to happy and fearful faces presented in a rapid covert or masked presentation. The response following two weeks of escitalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of citalopram. The cluster of differential activation was located in the left middle temporal gyrus.
two weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Escitalopram Compared With Citalopram When Faces and a Fixation Stimulus Are Presented in an Overt Presentation.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective faces and a fixation stimulus presented in an overt or unmasked presentation. The response following two weeks of escitalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of citalopram. The cluster of differential activation was located in the right insular cortex.
2 weeks
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Citalopram Compared With Placebo When Affective Faces Are Presented in a Covert Stimulus Presentation and Contrasted With a Fixation Stimulus.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective (happy and fearful) faces presented in a covert or masked presentation and contrasted with activation in response to a neutral fixation stimulus. The response following two weeks of citalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of placebo. The cluster of differential activation was located in the right occipital fusiform gyrus.
2 weeks
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Citalopram Compared With Placebo When Affective Faces Are Presented in a Covert Stimulus Presentation and Contrasted With a Fixation Stimulus.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective (happy and fearful) faces presented in a covert or masked presentation and contrasted with activation in response to a neutral fixation stimulus. The response following two weeks of citalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of placebo. The cluster of differential activation was located in the right lateral occipital cortex.
2 weeks
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Escitalopram Compared With Placebo When Affective Faces Are Presented in a Covert Stimulus Presentation and Contrasted With a Fixation Stimulus.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective (happy and fearful) faces presented in a covert or masked presentation and contrasted with activation in response to a neutral fixation stimulus. The response following two weeks of escitalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of placebo. The cluster of differential activation was located in the right inferior lateral occipital cortex.
2 weeks
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Placebo Compared With Citalopram When Affective Words Are Contrasted With a Fixation Stimulus.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective words contrasted with activation in response to a neutral fixation stimulus. The response following two weeks of placebo was compared to the response following two weeks of citalopram. The cluster of differential activation was located in the right lingual gyrus and right superior lateral occipital cortex.
2 weeks
Number of Voxels Showing Greater Activation Following Escitalopram Compared With Citalopram When Affective Words Are Contrasted With a Fixation Stimulus.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Activation was measured using BOLD fMRI in response to affective words contrasted with activation in response to a neutral fixation stimulus. The response following two weeks of escitalopram was compared to the response following two weeks of citalopram. The cluster of differential activation was located in the left primary visual cortex.
2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Michael Henry, MD

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Forest Laboratories

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Michael E Henry, MD, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2007

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2011

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 19, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 20, 2009

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 21, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 14, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 16, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 00397

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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