We have considered using a higher dosage, but escitalopram 20mg daily might have given more adverse effects, possibly jeopardizing blinding and adherence. The dose of escitalopram 10mg used resulted in well-known adverse effects as described in previous papers [Knorr et al. 2011; Wingen et al. 2005]. Risk of errors

We have minimized the risk of systematic error (‘bias’) by using a randomized, age- and sex-stratified sample, and comparison with blinding in all phases of the trial. Also our neutral results speak against any bias. We planned to include Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical 80 participants due to resources, feasibility and availability of the healthy first-degree relatives of patients with MDD. The AGENDA trial was planned and executed as a superiority trial and was not designed as an equivalence or noninferiority trial [Christensen, 2007]. Hence, we cannot

exclude the possibility of overlooking Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical a difference due to random error (‘play of chance’). This issue can only be solved by further trials [Sogaard et al. 2005]. Finally, we have analysed multiple outcomes thus increasing the risk of type I error for the remaining outcomes of the trial, as previously described [Knorr et al. 2009]. Generalizability To increase the chances of detecting an effect of escitalopram versus placebo we included healthy individuals Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical at increased risk of developing depression (i.e. with a first-degree family history of depression), as these participants seem to be to present with subtle cognitive dysfunction as previously shown in a study from our group [Christensen et al. 2006]. Further, as no effect of escitalopram was found in the present trial including a group of participants at enhanced risk this Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical finding may Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical be generalized to healthy Whites without a family history of depression. Conclusion Our results suggest that treatment with escitalopram does not improve or impair cognitive function in healthy individuals with a first-degree family history of severe depression. Improvement in cognitive function

following treatment of depressed patients with SSRIs seems to be related to the effects on depressive symptoms rather than to a direct effect of the SSRI. Trial registration Local Ethics Committee: selleck screening library H-KF 307413. Danish Medicines Agency: 2612-3162. EudraCT: 2006-001750-28. Danish Data Agency: 2006-41-6737. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 00386841 (AGENDA). Acknowledgements The members of the data monitoring and safety committee, Associate Professor Jørgen Hilden and Professor Per Bech, are thanked for their contribution. Vibe Nordahn Bredsdorff, Helene Dysgaard and Peter Kristian Jacobsen conducted the AVL-301 neuropsychological tests. We thank H. Lundbeck A/S for the free supply of the trial drug and placebo, and the Eli Larsen Foundation, the Jeppe Juhl Foundation, the Geert Jørgensen Foundation and the Ivan Nielsen Foundation for unrestricted economical support.