Before prescribing an SSRI for
Alzheimer’s-associated agitation,
consider referring patients to
join the S-CitAD study
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating disorder, robbing patients of their intellectual abilities
leading to behaviors that severely limit the quality of life for patients and caregivers. One of the
most common syndromes that we observe in these patients is agitation, which can be aggressive or
nonaggressive. Agitation (in the context of AD) is defined by these behaviors—excessive motor activity
(such as pacing and aimless wandering), verbal aggression (such as cursing, shouting, and yelling),
and/or physical aggression (such as hitting, shoving, and slamming doors).
Johns Hopkins University is conducting the Escitalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease (S-CitAD)
clinical research study, in clinics across the United States and Canada, to determine if escitalopram
can help people who have AD with agitation, along with providing those patients and their caregivers
with psychosocial counselling to help them deal with practical problems and emotional consequences of
AD.
This is a placebo-controlled, masked, 12-week randomized clinical trial
sponsored by the
More than 20 sites across the US and Canada
National Institute on Aging (NIA). The study will look at which patients improve on the study drug with counseling and which patients improve on counseling alone.
Your patients may be eligible for the S-CitAD clinical study if they:
If your patient enrolls in S-CitAD, we can assure you that he/she will remain your patient. While
patients will see us for study-related evaluations, you will still manage their other conditions.
We also hope our trial reduces burden on both you, the clinician in dealing with the
challenges of a patient with agitation and Alzheimer’s.
Have significant agitation;
Have a study caregiver available to attend study visits;
Are
willing to participate in a research study;
Are available for 3 months of study follow-up;
Are not involved in another clinical trial or study; and
Are able to be treated with
escitalopram (there are simple restrictions on other medications patients may be taking prior to
study entry as well).
Refer any patients
that may qualify
to this questionnaire
to get started