Escitalopram in a working population: results from an observational study of 2378 outpatients in Austria.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of escitalopram in a naturalistic sample of employed people with mood and anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Days on sick leave 3 months prior and 3 months during treatment with escitalopram were recorded and compared (mirror study design) in 2378 patients (949 men and 1376 women). A further clinical examination including the clinical global impression of severity (CGI-S) and improvement (CGI-I) scales and assessments of tolerability were used to evaluate treatment effects in a subgroup of 807 study subjects.


RESULTS
Escitalopram treatment (mean final daily dosage: 12.4+/-5.0 mg) led to a significant reduction (baseline versus end of study) of sick leave (11.0+/-12.8 days versus 5.4+/-11.0 days; p<0.001). CGI-S scores decreased from 4.7+/-0.9 at baseline to 2.4+/-1.1 after 3 months (p<0.001), the CGI-I after 3 months was 1.9+/-0.9. The incidence of adverse events after initiation of treatment with escitalopram was 13.1%, with only 1.3% of patients experiencing severe adverse events interfering with patient functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that escitalopram is an efficacious and overall well-tolerated treatment in a naturalistic sample of working patients. A decrease in the days on sick leave is indicative of indirect cost-effectiveness of this treatment.
Winkler
Dietmar
D
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. dietmar.winkler@meduniwien.ac.at
Pjrek
Edda
E
Moser
Ulrike
U
Kasper
Siegfried
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001317:Austria; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018582:Sick Leave
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram