Conditions: Antidepressant Activity in Healthy Volunteers
Keywords: Citalopram Escitalopram Celexa Lexapro fMRI antidepressant healthy volunteers
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 27
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
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.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: One week of escitalopram at 10 mg followed by one week at 20 mg in healthy volunteers. arm 2: One week of citalopram at 20 mg followed by one week at 40 mg in healthy volunteers. arm 3: Two weeks of placebo in healthy volunteers.

Interventions: intervention 1: Escitalopram intervention 2: Citalopram intervention 3: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: One week of escitalopram taken orally at 10 mg followed by one week at 20 mg daily. intervention 2: One week of citalopram taken orally at 20 mg followed by one week at 40 mg daily. intervention 3: Two weeks of placebo taken orally.

Protocol document: