Tolerability and Efficacy of High Dose Escitalopram for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Objectives: To evaluate tolerability and efficacy of escitalopram treatment in high dose than 20-50 mg/d in out-patients with OCD Type of the study: Open label, prospective study. Number of patients: 100 patients with OCD Duration of the study: 18-weeks of active treatment, 8-visits: Dose titration: One week of 10mg Four weeks of 20mg After 4 weeks of 20mg treatment- if partial/no response, according to YBOCS score and clinical judgment, dose increase of up to 50mg depending on response, adverse events, patient preference and judgment of the clinician 12 weeks follow up on high dose. Total of 18 weeks of follow-up.

Detailed Description
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Objectives: To evaluate tolerability and efficacy of escitalopram treatment in doses higher than 20mg (20-50 mg/d) in patients with OCD, non responsive or partially responsive to recommended doses. Type of the study: Open label, prospective study. Study location: Subjects will be recruited from patients treated in a large clinic specializing in mood disorders and anxiety and OCD. Backup site: the ABARBANEL mental health center. Number of patients: 100 patients with OCD Duration of the study: 18-weeks of active treatment, 8-visits: Dose titration: One week of 10mg Four weeks of 20mg After 4 weeks of 20mg treatment- if partial/no response, according to YBOCS score and clinical judgment, dose increase of up to 50mg depending on response, adverse events, patient preference and judgment of the clinician 12 weeks follow up on high dose. Total of 18 weeks of follow-up. Patients Inclusion Criteria: Men and women over 18 years of age DSM IV-TR criteria for OCD OCD associated with most distress or most interference in the patient's life as judged by the treating physician Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) total score ≥16 Exclusion Criteria: Other primary or co-primary psychiatric disorder which is more distressful for the patient then the OCD, as evaluated by investigator Patients with any history of mania/bipolar disorder Patients using medications which are contraindicated with the use of escitalopram Known contraindication for the use of citalopram or escitalopram. Unable to understand and give informed consent Prominent suicidal ideation (2 points or more in the MADRS suicidal thoughts item) Alcohol or substance dependence in the past 6 months Major physical illness a) woman currently pregnant or less then 4 weeks after a childbirth Or b) woman lactating Or c) A woman of childbearing potential not using a medically accepted form of contraception. Liver function abnormality EKG abnormalities Study Design: An institutional review board acknowledged by the Israeli Ministry of Health will approve the study. After complete description of the study to the patients, written informed consent will be obtained from patients found eligible and willing to participate. The design will be open-labeled. The study will last for 18 weeks. Patients will be evaluated by clinical assessment and by various questionnaires (see rating scales section). Those who will be diagnosed as having OCD and will fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria requirements will start 4 weeks of initial treatment with escitalopram up to 20mg/d. After 4 weeks those patients who will be evaluated as non-responders (reduction of Y-BOCS total score by less than 25%) will continue treatment with higher escitalopram dose. Dose will be adjusted according to clinical status and the clinician's judgment up to 50mg/d of escitalopram. Patients will be evaluated periodically throughout the study for adverse reactions and psychiatric status by various rating scales as well as a clinical evaluation by the investigator. Assessments: Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) Symptom Checklist Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) The Clinical Global Impression scales (CGI) consist of two sub-scales: The Severity of illness (CGI-S) and the Global improvement (CGI-I). A checklist of serotonergic specific adverse drug reactions + dizziness, bleeding and ecchymoses checklist Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for assessment of mental well-being at every visit SDS (Sheehan Disability Scale) Recent and concomitant medications at every visit

Official Title
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Phase III Open Study of High Dose Escitalopram for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Adults

Conditions
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: escitalopram


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men and women over 18 years of age DSM IV-TR criteria for OCD OCD associated with most distress or most interference in the patient's life as judged by the treating physician Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) total score ≥ 16 Exclusion Criteria: Other primary or co-primary psychiatric disorder which is more distressful for the patient then the OCD, as evaluated by investigator Patients with any history of mania/bipolar disorder Patients using medications which are contraindicated with the use of escitalopram Known contraindication for the use of citalopram or escitalopram. Unable to understand and give informed consent Prominent suicidal ideation (2 points or more in the MADRS suicidal thoughts item) Alcohol or substance dependence in the past 6 months Major physical illness Woman currently pregnant or less then 4 weeks after a childbirth, a woman lactating, or a woman of childbearing potential not using a medically accepted form of contraception. Liver function abnormality EKG abnormalities

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: escitalopram|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Safety as recorded by adverse-events and side-effects reports. |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reduction in YBOCS scores at week 18 |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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OCD, Escitalopram