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Escitalopram for perimenopausal depression: an open-label pilot study.
Marlene P Freeman1, Rebecca Hill, Barbara H Brumbach
1Women's Mental Health Program, Departments of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5002, USA. marlenef@email.arizona.edu
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|September 27, 2006
Summary
Escitalopram effectively treated perimenopausal depression and somatic symptoms in an 8-week trial. This study suggests antidepressants are a viable option for managing perimenopause symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Perimenopause is associated with a high risk of depressive episodes.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopausal symptoms is controversial.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) offer a potential treatment for mood and somatic symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of escitalopram in treating perimenopausal depression and somatic symptoms.
- To assess the impact of escitalopram on psychological, vasomotor, and somatic symptoms during perimenopause.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, 8-week trial involving 20 women with perimenopausal depression.
- Serial assessments using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI).
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in GCS, HAM-D30, and CGI scores (p < 0.0001).
- Treatment demonstrated benefits across psychological, vasomotor, and somatic symptom domains.
- Two participants discontinued due to side effects; limitations include small sample size and lack of placebo control.
Conclusions:
- Escitalopram shows promise for treating perimenopausal depression and associated somatic symptoms.
- Larger, long-term, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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