Impact of Caregiver Depression on Asthma in the Child

Caregiver Psychiatric Symptomatology and it's Relationship to Service Utilization by Children With Asthma

This study will examine if depression in a primary caregiver is associated with more hospitalization or ER visits in children with asthma. This study will also explore whether treatment for depression in the primary caregivers is associated with improvement in asthma in school-aged children.

Asthma is a very common childhood disorder of airway inflammation. The causes include environmental irritants, cold temperature, and infection in the respiratory tract, and emotional factors can contribute to symptom exacerbation. However, asthma is a disease that can be well controlled if there is proper medication compliance and careful control of environmental conditions.

Data suggests that psychiatric symptoms in the mothers of children with asthma are associated with more asthma related hospitalizations in children. Thus, we want to explore this question further using more specific diagnostic instruments in order to detect what types of symptoms are associated with increased asthma related service utilization. Also, we want to explore if effective treatment of the caregivers' symptoms is associated with decreased hospitalization and emergency room visits for the child.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Asthma; Depressive Disorder, Major
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Lexapro

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment: 175

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
      • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Primary caregiver of a child currently hospitalized at Children's Medical Center of Dallas for an asthma exacerbation and between the ages of 5 and 16 years old

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary caregiver of a child currently hospitalized at Children's Medical Center of Dallas for an asthma exacerbation and between the ages of 5 and 16 years old
• Male and female
• English or Spanish Speaking
• Between the ages of 18 and 70 years old
• Caregivers with major depressive disorder will be offered treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• At risk for suicide defined by multiple suicide attempts (greater than or equal to 3 in the past), and/or current suicidal ideation with a well-formed plan or intent
• Unlikely to attend follow-up appointments
• Mentally retarded or suffer from other severe cognitive impairment
• Pregnant or nursing, or women of childbearing age who will not use methods of birth control or abstinence during the study
• Suffering from a severe or life-threatening medical illness which would make completion of the study unlikely
• Suffering from treatment refractory depression defined by failing three adequate trials of antidepressants
• Depression as part of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or current depression secondary to a medication or general medical condition, or with psychotic features

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: E. Sherwood Brown, MD, Ph.D., University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2003
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2006
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2005
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2005
• First Posted (Estimate): September 22, 2005

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 3, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 2, 2011
• Last Verified: August 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Mood Disorders; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Depressive Disorder; Asthma; Depressive Disorder, Major; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Psychotropic Drugs; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Serotonin Agents; Antidepressive Agents; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Citalopram
• Other Study ID Numbers: MHGP MM12