Major Depressive DisorderPhase 3NCT00095758
A Study of Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder
A Phase 3 study testing Antidepressant + Aripiprazole in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 28 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This trial is a 14 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, to assess the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole as adjunctive treatment to an ongoing antidepressant treatment in patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Major Depressive Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 1,151 participants
- Where
- 28 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2004to 1 Dec 2006
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Men and women, 18-65 years old
- Experienced a Major Depressive Disorder with the current episode of minimally 8 weeks in duration.
- Treatment history of an inadequate response to at least one and no more than three antidepressants.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
28 sites in 1 country.
28 sites in 1 country
United States28 sites
Local Institution
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Local Institution
Arlington, Virginia
Local Institution
Atlanta, Georgia
Local Institution
Bellevue, Washington
Local Institution
Beverly Hills, California
Local Institution
Brooklyn, New York
Local Institution
Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Local Institution
Burbank, California
Local Institution
Cincinnati, Ohio
Local Institution
Dallas, Texas
Local Institution
Denver, Colorado
Local Institution
Farmington, Connecticut
Local Institution
Herndon, Virginia
Local Institution
Houston, Texas
Local Institution
Jacksonville, Florida
Local Institution
Memphis, Tennessee
Local Institution
Middleton, Wisconsin
Local Institution
National City, California
Local Institution
New York, New York
Local Institution
Orange, California
Local Institution
Orlando, Florida
Local Institution
Pasadena, California
Local Institution
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Local Institution
Portland, Oregon
Local Institution
Richmond, Virginia
Local Institution
Rockville, Maryland
Local Institution
Seattle, Washington
Local Institution
Toledo, Ohio
About this study
Official title: A Study of Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
This trial is a 14 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, to assess the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole as adjunctive treatment to an ongoing antidepressant treatment in patients with Major Depressive Disorder.
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Being tested
- Antidepressant + Placebo, Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Antidepressant + PlaceboDrug
Antidepressant Caps/Tablets Placebo Tablets, Oral, 2-20 mg Placebo, once daily, 6 weeks following an 8 week Prospective Treatment (Baseline) Phase.
Antidepressant + AripiprazoleDrug
Also called Abilify
Antidepressant Caps/Tablets Aripiprazole Tablets, Oral, 2-20 mg Aripiprazole, once daily, 6 weeks following an 8 week Prospective Treatment (Baseline) Phase.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: Antidepressant + Placebo |
| A2 | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in a depression rating scale at endpoint
Measured: Baseline, Week 8
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in a disability scale and Clinical Global Impression scale at endpoint
Measured: Baseline, Week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Study start1 Sep 2004
- Primary completion1 Dec 2006
- Study completion1 Dec 2006
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (12)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Major Depressive DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 1,151 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Otsuka America Pharmaceutical
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095758
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CN138-163
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Nov 2004
- Last updated
- 13 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Anonymized Individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results of this study will be shared with researchers to achieve aims pre-specified in a methodologically sound research proposal. Small studies with less than 25 participants are excluded from data sharing.
Publications
Trivedi MH, Thase ME, Fava M, Nelson CJ, Yang H, Qi Y, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: analysis of efficacy and safety in patients with anxious and atypical features. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;69(12):1928-36. Epub 2008 Dec 2.
PubMed 19192475Nelson JC, Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Fava M, Han J, Van Tran Q, Pikalov A, Qi Y, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Safety and Tolerability of Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Major Depressive Disorder: A Pooled Post Hoc Analysis (studies CN138-139 and CN138-163). Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;11(6):344-52. doi: 10.4088/PCC.08m00744gre.
PubMed 20098527Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Nelson JC, Fava M, Swanink R, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Yang H, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Examining the efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of 2 studies. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;10(6):440-7. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v10n0603.
PubMed 19287552Marcus RN, McQuade RD, Carson WH, Hennicken D, Fava M, Simon JS, Trivedi MH, Thase ME, Berman RM. The efficacy and safety of aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder: a second multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2008 Apr;28(2):156-65. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e31816774f9.
PubMed 18344725Fava M, Wisniewski SR, Thase ME, Baker RA, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Yang H, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Metabolic assessment of aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of 2 studies. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009 Aug;29(4):362-7. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac9b0b.
PubMed 19593176Stewart TD, Hatch A, Largay K, Sheehan JJ, Marler SV, Berman RM, Nelson JC. Effect of symptom severity on efficacy and safety of aripiprazole adjunctive to antidepressant monotherapy in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis. J Affect Disord. 2014 Jun;162:20-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.03.017. Epub 2014 Mar 24.
PubMed 24766999Fabian TJ, Cain ZJ, Ammerman D, Eudicone JM, Tang Y, Rollin LM, Forbes RA, Berman RM, Baker RA. Improvement in functional outcomes with adjunctive aripiprazole versus placebo in major depressive disorder: a pooled post hoc analysis of 3 short-term studies. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(6):PCC.12m01394. doi: 10.4088/PCC.12m01394. Epub 2012 Dec 20.
PubMed 23585999Dunner DL, Laubmeier KK, Manos G, Forbes RA, Baker RA, Berman RM. Beneficial effects of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder are not dependent on antidepressant therapy history: a post hoc analysis of 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(6):PCC.12m01380. doi: 10.4088/PCC.12m01380. Epub 2012 Nov 22.
PubMed 23585997Casey DE, Laubmeier KK, Marler SV, Forbes RA, Baker RA. Efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: a pooled response quartile analysis and the predictive value of week 2 early response. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01251. doi: 10.4088/PCC.11m01251. Epub 2012 May 31.
PubMed 23106023Fava M, Dording CM, Baker RA, Mankoski R, Tran QV, Forbes RA, Eudicone JM, Owen R, Berman RM. Effects of adjunctive aripiprazole on sexual functioning in patients with major depressive disorder and an inadequate response to standard antidepressant monotherapy: a post hoc analysis of 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(1):PCC.10m00994. doi: 10.4088/PCC.10m00994gre.
PubMed 21731833Weisler RH, Khan A, Trivedi MH, Yang H, Eudicone JM, Pikalov A, Tran QV, Berman RM, Carlson BX. Analysis of suicidality in pooled data from 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled aripiprazole adjunctive therapy trials in major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Apr;72(4):548-55. doi: 10.4088/JCP.09m05495gre. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
PubMed 20816039Boulton DW, Balch AH, Royzman K, Patel CG, Berman RM, Mallikaarjun S, Reeves RA. The pharmacokinetics of standard antidepressants with aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy: studies in healthy subjects and in patients with major depressive disorder. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Apr;24(4):537-46. doi: 10.1177/0269881108096522. Epub 2008 Oct 2.
PubMed 18832427
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Study of Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095758
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CN138-163
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,151 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Otsuka America Pharmaceutical
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2004 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2006 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2006 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This trial is a 14 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, to assess the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole as adjunctive treatment to an ongoing antidepressant treatment in patients with Major Depressive Disorder.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Placebo comparator | Drug: Antidepressant + Placebo |
| A2 | Active comparator | Drug: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Men and women, 18-65 years old
- Experienced a Major Depressive Disorder with the current episode of minimally 8 weeks in duration.
- Treatment history of an inadequate response to at least one and no more than three antidepressants.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Antidepressant + PlaceboAntidepressant Caps/Tablets Placebo Tablets, Oral, 2-20 mg Placebo, once daily, 6 weeks following an 8 week Prospective Treatment (Baseline) Phase. | Drug | A1 |
| Antidepressant + AripiprazoleAlso: AbilifyAntidepressant Caps/Tablets Aripiprazole Tablets, Oral, 2-20 mg Aripiprazole, once daily, 6 weeks following an 8 week Prospective Treatment (Baseline) Phase. | Drug | A2 |
Primary outcome
Change in a depression rating scale at endpoint
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8
1 secondary outcome
Change in a disability scale and Clinical Global Impression scale at endpoint
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 19192475Trivedi MH, Thase ME, Fava M, Nelson CJ, Yang H, Qi Y, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: analysis of efficacy and safety in patients with anxious and atypical features. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;69(12):1928-36. Epub 2008 Dec 2.
- Background: PubMed 20098527Nelson JC, Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Fava M, Han J, Van Tran Q, Pikalov A, Qi Y, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Safety and Tolerability of Adjunctive Aripiprazole in Major Depressive Disorder: A Pooled Post Hoc Analysis (studies CN138-139 and CN138-163). Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;11(6):344-52. doi: 10.4088/PCC.08m00744gre.
- Background: PubMed 19287552Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Nelson JC, Fava M, Swanink R, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Yang H, Carlson BX, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Examining the efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of 2 studies. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;10(6):440-7. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v10n0603.
- Background: PubMed 18344725Marcus RN, McQuade RD, Carson WH, Hennicken D, Fava M, Simon JS, Trivedi MH, Thase ME, Berman RM. The efficacy and safety of aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder: a second multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2008 Apr;28(2):156-65. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e31816774f9.
- Background: PubMed 19593176Fava M, Wisniewski SR, Thase ME, Baker RA, Tran QV, Pikalov A, Yang H, Marcus RN, Berman RM. Metabolic assessment of aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of 2 studies. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009 Aug;29(4):362-7. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac9b0b.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 24766999Stewart TD, Hatch A, Largay K, Sheehan JJ, Marler SV, Berman RM, Nelson JC. Effect of symptom severity on efficacy and safety of aripiprazole adjunctive to antidepressant monotherapy in major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis. J Affect Disord. 2014 Jun;162:20-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.03.017. Epub 2014 Mar 24.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23585999Fabian TJ, Cain ZJ, Ammerman D, Eudicone JM, Tang Y, Rollin LM, Forbes RA, Berman RM, Baker RA. Improvement in functional outcomes with adjunctive aripiprazole versus placebo in major depressive disorder: a pooled post hoc analysis of 3 short-term studies. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(6):PCC.12m01394. doi: 10.4088/PCC.12m01394. Epub 2012 Dec 20.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23585997Dunner DL, Laubmeier KK, Manos G, Forbes RA, Baker RA, Berman RM. Beneficial effects of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder are not dependent on antidepressant therapy history: a post hoc analysis of 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(6):PCC.12m01380. doi: 10.4088/PCC.12m01380. Epub 2012 Nov 22.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23106023Casey DE, Laubmeier KK, Marler SV, Forbes RA, Baker RA. Efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole in major depressive disorder: a pooled response quartile analysis and the predictive value of week 2 early response. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01251. doi: 10.4088/PCC.11m01251. Epub 2012 May 31.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 21731833Fava M, Dording CM, Baker RA, Mankoski R, Tran QV, Forbes RA, Eudicone JM, Owen R, Berman RM. Effects of adjunctive aripiprazole on sexual functioning in patients with major depressive disorder and an inadequate response to standard antidepressant monotherapy: a post hoc analysis of 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2011;13(1):PCC.10m00994. doi: 10.4088/PCC.10m00994gre.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 20816039Weisler RH, Khan A, Trivedi MH, Yang H, Eudicone JM, Pikalov A, Tran QV, Berman RM, Carlson BX. Analysis of suicidality in pooled data from 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled aripiprazole adjunctive therapy trials in major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Apr;72(4):548-55. doi: 10.4088/JCP.09m05495gre. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 18832427Boulton DW, Balch AH, Royzman K, Patel CG, Berman RM, Mallikaarjun S, Reeves RA. The pharmacokinetics of standard antidepressants with aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy: studies in healthy subjects and in patients with major depressive disorder. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Apr;24(4):537-46. doi: 10.1177/0269881108096522. Epub 2008 Oct 2.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Anonymized Individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results of this study will be shared with researchers to achieve aims pre-specified in a methodologically sound research proposal. Small studies with less than 25 participants are excluded from data sharing.
Related trials for Major Depressive Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Preventive and Personalized Digital Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Youths With Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experience, Depression / Major Depressive Disorder
RecruitingPhase 4
Biomarker-Guided Antidepressant Selection
Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD)
Recruiting
Targeting Network Dysfunction in Apathy of Late-life Depression Using Digital Therapeutics
Major Depressive Disorder, Apathy
RecruitingObservational study
Student Precarity and Psychiatry
Depressive Disorder, Major, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Acute Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy for Depression
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
28 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Antidepressant + Aripiprazole in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 28 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 28 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in a depression rating scale at endpoint (time frame: Baseline, Week 8). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00095758, which also lists 12 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jul 2026.