Clinical Trial: Escitalopram for the Treatment of Self-Injurious Skin Picking

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Escitalopram for the Treatment of Self-Injurious Skin Picking

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of escitalopram in treating self-injurious skin picking.

Detailed Summary:

Purpose: Self-injurious skin picking is a problem documented to occur in 2 % of dermatology patients (Gupta, Gupta and Haberman, 1986) , and approximately 4% of the general population (Keuthen et al., 2000). It is widely under recognized, with medical sequelae that can include scarring, infections, lesions, and potentially life-threatening outcomes (O'Sullivan et al., 1999). In a prior study, fluoxetine was shown to be superior to placebo in treating self-injurious skin picking in a modest-sized double blind trial (Simeon et al., 1997). Similarly, open-label trials of other SSRIs, including sertraline (Kalivas, Kalivas and Gilman, 1996) and fluvoxamine (Arnold et al., 1999) resulted in reductions in skin-picking behavior. Escitalopram is a new SSRI that may have superior efficacy for the treatment of major depression and fewer side effects than other SSRIs. This study aims to assess the efficacy of escitalopram in patients who suffer from self-injurious skin-picking.

Comparisons: Subjects' initial scores on the CGI, HAM-D, SPTS, SPS, SPIS, BDI, BAI, QLESQ, & BDDQ will be compared to subjects' final scores.


Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Current Primary Outcome:

  • MGH Skin Picking Scale
  • Skin Picking Impact Scale
  • Skin Picking Treatment Scale
  • Clinical Global Impressions scale


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Hamilton Depression Rating
  • Beck Depression Inventory
  • Beck Anxiety Inventory
  • Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Scale


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Massachusetts General Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: June 20, 2005
Date Started: September 2002
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 19, 2008
Last Verified: May 2008