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SSRI Effects on Depression and Immunity in HIV/AIDS

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Study Overview

Seeking participants who are living with HIV who are experiencing symptoms of depression (feeling tired, sad, angry or irritable; loss of interest or loss of appetite). The study involves comparing medication therapy to placebo in combination with behavioral therapy.

Study Description

The purpose of this study is to determine if a common anti-depressant called escitalopram, a type of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, (SSRI) can positively affect immunity - your body’s defense against infection - in depressed individuals living with HIV. We will study the direct effect of this SSRI on your immunity and we will also study if lessening of depressive symptoms can positively affect your immunity. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled study. “Randomization” means you will be put into a group by chance. It’s like flipping a coin. You have a 50% chance of being in the group that receives study medication and a 50% chance of being in the group that receives the placebo. “Placebo” is what we call the pill that looks exactly like the study medication pill, but it does not have the active medication in it. While the study medication is FDA approved for treating depression, because we are investigating its effects on your immunity, its use in this study is considered investigational.


Your participation in the study will last 11 weeks. You will be evaluated
approximately once a week. We are identifying the week visits as baseline 1 and 2
and weeks 1- 10 which we will refer to in other sections in this form. Most of your
appointments or visits will happen either remotely or in person.

Eligible participants will receive $100 compensation for completing the baseline assessment visits. If you complete the baseline assessment visit in 2 shorter visits you will receive $50 for each visit. You will then receive $30 compensation for each weekly assessment visit you participate in at weeks 1,3 ,5 ,6 ,and 8.  You will receive $40 each for your week 2 and 4 visits, and you will receive $50 for your final visit at week 10. Thus you would be paid a total of $380 if you attend all study visits.

  • Study Identifier: 823405

Recruitment Status

Closed
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