Scopolamine augmentation of a newly initiated escitalopram treatment for major depressive disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and disabling disorder that can lead to heavy individual, familial, and societal burdens. Although pharmaceutical interventions still play an essential role in therapeutic measures, limitations, including effects that are delayed for weeks, are noteworthy. Antidepressants with rapid efficacy and acceptable tolerance have been investigated for many years; rapid antidepressant effects and promising clinical applications have been obtained with intravenous and oral scopolamine. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of repeated intramuscular scopolamine as an add-on treatment to escitalopram.

Methods

This is a single-center, saline-controlled, double-blind, three-armed, randomized trial. Sixty-six participants diagnose

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6327471 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature