Electrocardiographic Changes in Patients with Depression after Using Escitalopram for a Short Period

Background Antidepressant drugs are most commonly used for management of depressive disorders. Antidepressant drugs used in psychiatric clinics may affect the electrical activity of the heart which may induce fatal cardiac events. Objectives The purpose of the current study is to reveal the outcomes of escitalopram use for short period of time on the ECG records applying the prolongation of (heart-rate corrected interval for assessing ventricular repolarization) QTc and (corrected JT interval) JTc intervals as a predictor of the negative effects of antidepressants. Methods Twenty-eight patients with major depressive disorder and 20 healthy participants were recruited. Parameters such as weight, height, and blood pressure measurements were determined. Electrocardiographic (ECG) records and echocardiographic records [for ejection fraction (%)] were obtained before administration of escitalopram and after 4 weeks of treatment with daily escitalopram 10 mg. The intervals of JTc and QTc and the voltage criteria (R wave-V5 and S wave-V1) were measured. Results Patients with depression had a significantly prolonged interval of JTc and small-voltage criterion of the ventricles. Escitalopram significantly improves the prolongation in JTc and non-significantly ameliorate the voltage criterion. There is no significant alteration in the parameter of ejection fraction. Conclusion Irregularities in ECG records were observed in patients with major depressive disorder, and treatment with escitalopram for short period is associated with favorable results rather than negative effects.  The evaluation of JTc interval in patients with depression is more suitable than QTc measurement in estimation of the effects of escitalopram.