Abstract

MENDOZA RUBIO, R. et al. Efficacy of escitalopram in the management of mild or moderate depression in patients with chronic cancer pain. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2011, vol.18, n.6, pp.326-331. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objective: to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in patients with chronic cancer pain that is accompanied by mild or moderate depression. Material and method: conducted a clinical trial, quasi-experimental, prospective, in 46 patients with chronic cancer pain with mild or moderate depression in the Department of Pain Clinic, National Medical Center "20 de Noviembre" ISSSTE in the period from 15 July to 15 October 2010. We determined the degree of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory and confirmed the depressive symptoms began treatment with escitalopram 10 mg orally every 24 hours. Assessment was performed before treatment, at 2 weeks and finally started at an interval of every 7 days for 3 weeks. In addition to evaluating the reduction of the VAS during all phases of the study. Results: we studied 46 patients who were 25 female and 21 male. The age of patients ranged from 24 to 74, with a mean of 53.9 ± 12.1 years. Adequate antidepressant efficacy was found when comparing the intensity according to the Beck inventory control start and end (p < 0.000001). There was a decrease in median Verbal Analog Scale pain scored EVA comparing start and end control (p < 0.000001). Conclusions: with this study we can conclude that a drug escitalopram effective in controlling mild to moderate depression associated with chronic cancer pain. It can be concluded that controlling the depressive episode was statistically significant reduction in pain measured by EVA.

Keywords : Depression; Chronic cancer pain; Escitalopram.

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