PPI Combined With SSRI Management Of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease:A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To evaluate whether acid suppression drugs(PPI)combined with escitalopram(SSRI)are effective in treatment of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease(LPRD)and depression.Methods:Reflux symptom index(RSI),reflux finding score(RFS),and self-rating depression scale(SDS)were used for patients with suspected LPRD and depression symptoms at the otolaryngology clinic.The patients were randomly divided into the trial[treatment with a proton pump inhibitor(PPI)combined with an antidepressant(escitalopram)]and control groups[treatment with PPI(esomeprazole)alone].After 8 weeks of treatment,the RSI,RFS,and SDS scores were determined for the patients in whom the treatment was effective.Finally,26 patients were included in the trial group and 22 in the control group.Results:There were no significant differences in the pretreatment RSI,RFS,and SDS scores of the groups.However,there were significant differences in the RSI and SDS scores of the two groups posttreatment(P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between the pretreatment RSI and SDS scores(r=0.529,P<0.01)and between the posttreatment RSI and SDS scores of the trial group(r=0.354,P<0.05);however,no such correlation was observed in the control group.Conclusion:In patients with LPRD and depressive symptoms,more severe the reflux symptoms,greater the degree of depression.For patients with LPRD and depressive symptoms,the combination of a PPI and escitalopram is more effective than PPI alone.