Status:

RECRUITING

Escitalopram and Language Intervention for Subacute Aphasia

Lead Sponsor:

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborating Sponsors:

University of South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina

Conditions:

Aphasia

Stroke

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-99 years

Phase:

PHASE2

Brief Summary

In this project, the investigators will investigate the effects of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, on augmenting language therapy effectiveness, as measured by naming un...

Detailed Description

In this project, the investigators will investigate the effects of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, on augmenting language therapy effectiveness, as measured by naming un...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Participants must have sustained an acute ischemic left hemisphere stroke.
  • Participants must be fluent speakers of English by self-report.
  • Participants must be capable of giving informed consent or indicating a legally authorized representative to provide informed consent.
  • Participants must be age 18 or older.
  • Participants must be within 5 days of onset of stroke.
  • Participants must be pre-morbidly right-handed by self-report.
  • Participants must have an aphasia diagnosis as confirmed by the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8).

Exclusion

  • Previous neurological disease affecting the brain including previous symptomatic stroke
  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia, autism, or other psychiatric or neurological condition that affects naming/language
  • A history of additional risk factors for torsades de pointes (TdP; e.g., heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of Long QT Syndrome)
  • Current severe depression, defined as a score of \> 15 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
  • Uncorrected visual loss or hearing loss by self-report
  • Use of any medication approved by the FDA for treatment of depression at the time of stroke onset
  • Concomitant use of any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or pimozide, or other drugs that prolong the QT/QTc interval, triptans (and other 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor Agonists), or other contraindications to escitalopram that may be identified.
  • A QTc greater than 450 milliseconds on electrocardiogram or evidence of hyponatremia (Na \< 130) at baseline
  • Pregnancy at the time of stroke or planning to become pregnant during the study term.

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

July 18 2021

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

January 18 2027

Estimated Enrollment :

88 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT03843463

Start Date

July 18 2021

End Date

January 18 2027

Last Update

September 23 2025

Active Locations (3)

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Page 1 of 1 (3 locations)

1

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287

2

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425

3

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 29208