Rationale, design and methodology of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of escitalopram in prevention of Depression in Acute Coronary Syndrome (DECARD).
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome, i.e. myocardial infarction and unstable angina, is higher than in the general population. The prevalence of anxiety is higher as well. Both depression and anxiety are associated with poor cardiac outcomes and higher mortality. Comorbid depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome often goes undiagnosed, and it is therefore a challenging task to prevent this risk factor. The study of DEpression in Coronary ARtery Disease (DECARD) is designed to examine if it is possible to prevent depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome.


METHODS
Two hundred forty non-depressed patients with acute coronary syndrome are randomized to treatment with either escitalopram or placebo for 1 year. Psychiatric and cardiac assessment of patients is performed to evaluate the possibility of preventing depression. Diagnosis of depression and Hamilton Depression Scale are the primary outcome measures.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study of prevention of depression in patients after acute coronary syndrome with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.


BACKGROUND
http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT00140257.
Liaison Psychiatry Unit, Psychiatric Centre Bispebjerg, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. baiba.hansen@gmail.com
Baiba Hedegaard
BH
Hansen
Jamal Abed
JA
Hanash
Alice
A
Rasmussen
Jørgen Fischer
JF
Hansen
Morten
M
Birket-Smith
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors