Escitalopram (Lexapro) for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

Phase 4

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether women with postpartum major depressive disorder (MDD) will experience a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from baseline over an eight-week treatment intervention with escitalopram (Lexapro). Also, to determine whether women with postpartum MDD will experience a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Women ages 18 to 45 years old
Subjects must meet criteria for a major depressive episode with symptoms developing within three month of live childbirth
Subjects must present within six months of childbirth
MADRS score >15
BAI score >10
Subjects will be able to be treated on an outpatient basis
Subjects will be able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects who have taken any psychotropic medication, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, within the past two weeks (with the exception of non-benzodiazepine medications used for sleep, including trazodone, zolpidem, eszopiclone, etc)
Suicidal ideation with active plan or intent, as determined by the investigator
Presence of psychotic symptoms or homicidal ideation
History of mania or hypomania
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Presence of chronic depression or dysthymia, or chronic or treatment resistant anxiety disorders, as determined by investigator
Active alcohol/substance abuse currently or within the past year
Abnormal TSH, severe anemia, or uncontrolled hypertension

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Escitalopram	Escitalopram	Flexible dose escitalopram 10mg

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Clinician-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)	8 weeks	The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale is a widely used 10-item clinician-rated scale that describes the severity of depressive symptoms (range 0-60, higher score indicates greater symptom burden).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)	8 weeks	The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a 10-item self-report used to measure postpartum depression (range 0-30, higher score indicates greater symptom burden). A score of \>9 is indicative of perinatal major depression.
Change in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)	8 weeks	Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI): The BAI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire measuring typical symptoms of anxiety during the past week (range 0-63, higher score indicates greater anxiety).