Radboudumc
Verified site
Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Not recruiting
Study of Escitalopram Effects on Learning and Decision-Making in Healthy Adults: A Comparison with Placebo
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What is this trial about?
A plain-language summary of the goals, design and what participants do
This study aims to understand how serotonin affects learning and decision-making in healthy individuals. The research involves the use of escitalopram, a medication that influences serotonin levels in the brain, and a placebo. Escitalopram belongs to a group of medications commonly used to treat depression, though this study focuses on its effects in healthy people.
The study will examine how the medication affects participants' ability to make decisions and learn from their experiences. Participants will receive either escitalopram tablets or placebo capsules by mouth. The medication will be taken for a period of up to 24 weeks, with a maximum daily dose of 20 mg of escitalopram.
During the study, participants will complete various behavioral tasks and questionnaires to measure their decision-making abilities. The tasks will assess how quickly and accurately participants respond to different situations. The study uses a controlled approach where some participants receive the active medication while others receive the placebo, allowing researchers to compare the effects of escitalopram on learning and decision-making processes.
The research process
The trial runs in 3 steps – from screening to follow-up. Each step says what happens and what the team monitors.
Who can join the trial?
5 criteria
- Must be a healthy volunteer (a person who does not have any significant medical conditions)
- Age must be between 18 and 40 years old
- Both men and women can participate
- For participants who can become pregnant: must have a negative pregnancy test during the initial screening visit
- Must not be part of any vulnerable population groups (such as people unable to give consent)
Who cannot join the trial?
15 criteria
- History of neurological disorders (conditions affecting the brain, nerves, and spinal cord)
- History of psychiatric disorders (mental health conditions)
- Current use of medications that affect brain function or behavior
- History of substance abuse or addiction
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Participation in other clinical trials within the past 30 days
- Any condition that could interfere with learning and decision-making tasks
- Known allergies to medications used in the study
- Significant vision or hearing impairments that could affect task performance
- History of head trauma or brain injury
- Inability to follow study instructions or complete required tasks
- Regular use of psychoactive substances (substances that affect mental processes)
- Sleep disorders or irregular sleep patterns
- Serious medical conditions that could affect study participation
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Investigated drugs
Escitalopram is a medication that belongs to a group called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a chemical messenger, in the brain. In this study, escitalopram is given to participants to see how higher serotonin levels affect their ability to learn new information and make decisions. By comparing people who take escitalopram with those who take a harmless placebo, researchers can learn more about the role of serotonin in everyday thinking and behavior.
What is already known about the treatment
Placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) - The placebo capsule is taken by mouth as a regular tablet. It contains microcrystalline cellulose, an inactive ingredient used as a filler in many pills. It has no therapeutic effect and is not considered a drug, so it is not listed in medical literature as a treatment. It serves only to mimic the appearance of the real medication in the study.
Escitalopram - Escitalopram tablets are taken by mouth, usually once daily, and each tablet contains 20 mg of the active ingredient. Escitalopram is an approved antidepressant that is widely used and described in medical research. It works by gently increasing the level of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate mood, by blocking its re‑uptake into nerve cells. It belongs to the class of selective serotonin re‑uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Trial detailsLast updated 21 Oct 2026
Age18+ yearsPhasePhase IIITrial ID2024-516055-41-00Estimated enrolment90 patientsSponsorRadboud Universiteit Nijmegen
sourced from the EU Clinical Trials Register and site verification
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