Plain-English translation of NCT05851898 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Phase 4 — The treatment has already been approved. Researchers are tracking how it works in a large number of people over time.
This trial is studying whether the medication duloxetine can help prevent depression in older adults who have recently broken a bone in their lower leg or hip and needed surgery. Depression is common after serious fractures and can slow recovery, but it's not always treated right away. Researchers want to see if starting this medication early — right when you leave the hospital — can stop depression from developing in the first place.
Many older adults become depressed after a serious fracture, which can make healing harder and affect quality of life. However, there's often hesitation about starting mental health medication, and doctors aren't sure about the best time to prescribe it after an injury. This study aims to understand whether this medication can prevent depression before it starts and to work out the practical details of getting it to patients.
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If you enroll, you would receive a 90-day supply of the medication (duloxetine 30mg) to take once daily, starting at hospital discharge, with refills available. The study lasts approximately one year, during which researchers will monitor whether you develop depression and gather information about how well the medication works and any concerns you have about taking it. You would likely have follow-up visits or calls to check on your progress.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice
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