AzTrials
AzTrials

DepressionPhase 4NCT00177671

Antidepressant Medication Plus Donepezil for Treating Late-life Depression

A Phase 4 study testing Escitalopram, Donepezil and Venlafaxine in people with Depression and Dementia, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study will determine the effectiveness of combining escitalopram, venlafaxine, or duloxetine with donepezil, a medication used in Alzheimer's disease, in improving memory, concentration, attention, and problem solving abilities, and reducing the risk of depressive relapse in older individuals with depression. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Depression, Dementia
What is being tested?
Escitalopram, Donepezil and Venlafaxine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
220 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Dec 2003to Sep 2009
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Current episode of major depression
  • HRS-D 17-item score of 15 or higher
  • Must be able to speak English
  • Willing to discontinue other psychotropics
  • Availability of family member/caregiver
  • Hearing capacity adequate to respond to raised conversational voice
  • Must have no formal diagnosis of dementia

Who cannot join

  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or a psychotic disorders
  • Alcohol/drug abuse within 12 months of study entry
  • History of treatment non-adherence in other clinic protocols
  • History of non-response to citalopram in other clinic protocols
  • History of non-tolerance to SSRI therapy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Maintenance Therapies in Late-Life Depression: MTLD III

This study will determine the effectiveness of combining escitalopram, venlafaxine, or duloxetine with donepezil, a medication used in Alzheimer's disease, in improving memory, concentration, attention, and problem solving abilities, and reducing the risk of depressive relapse in older individuals with depression.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this research study is to learn if combining an antidepressant medication (escitalopram, venlafaxine, or duloxetine) with a medication used in Alzheimer's Disease (donepezil), in elderly patients age 65 and older with major depression, will help to 1) improve and/or maintain memory, concentration, attention, and problem solving abilities such as ability to balance a checkbook, pay bills, use the telephone, and 2) reduce the risk of depressive symptoms from returning. Study participation will last up to two years.

We aim to investigate pharmacologic strategies for improving and stabilizing cognitive functioning in late-life depression and minimizing progression of cognitive and associated functional impairment. Cognitive impairment in late-life depression has not been adequately addressed in previous intervention research, is a core feature of the illness, contributes markedly to disability and impaired quality of life, and is an overlooked but potentially critical target of intervention. Data from the MTLD II study suggest that treating depression does not normalize cognitive functions and may not prevent their progression. We will test a pharmacologic strategy involving the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil, in combination with maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy (escitalopram, venlafaxine, or duloxetine), to improve and to maintain cognitive functioning and functional competence in elderly patients with major depression.

We hypothesize that maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy combined with donepezil will be superior to maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy combined with placebo/clinical management in (1) improving cognitive performance; and (2) slowing progression of cognitive impairment and decline in functional competence. We plan to recruit 200 patients aged 65 and above in current episodes of major depression. Those who respond to antidepressant pharmacotherapy with citalopram, venlafaxine, or duloxetine will then be randomly assigned on a double-blind basis to one of two 24-month treatments: 1)antidepressant pharmacotherapy plus donepezil/clinical management; or 2)antidepressant pharmacotherapy plus placebo/clinical management.

For information on related studies, please follow these links:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00000377

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00178100

Conditions
Depression, Dementia
Being tested
Escitalopram, Donepezil, Venlafaxine, Placebo, Duloxetine
Keywords
Depression, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Cognitive, Donepezil, Memory, Function, Elderly, Late-Life
Medical subject headings
Depression, Dementia, Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • EscitalopramDrug

    Also called Lexapro

    Escitalopram, 10mg to 20mg daily.

  • DonepezilDrug

    Also called aricept

    Donepezil, 5mg to 10mg daily.

  • VenlafaxineDrug

    Also called effexor XR

    Venlafaxine, 150mg to 300mg daily.

  • PlaceboDrug

  • DuloxetineDrug

    Also called cymbalta

Study groups in NCT00177671
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Experimentalescitalopram plus donepezil (DNP)in the experimental maintenance phase of the study. For subjects failing to respond to escitalopram during the initial open phase of acute treatment we allowed the use of duloxetine or venlafaxine to bring about remission and establish eligibility for randomized assignment to maintenance treatment with augmentation donepezil. Participants remained on the same antidepressant medication and dosage throughout the 2 year maintenance phase of the study. In the event of a recurrence of major depression during maintenance treatment, dosages of antidepressant medication were raised, or the antidepressant was switched to venlafaxine or duloxetine. For subjects failing to respond to escitalopram during the initial open phase of acute treatment, we allowed the use of duloxetine to bring about remission and establish eligibility for randomized assignment to maintenance treatment with augmentation placebo.
Receives: Drug: Escitalopram; Drug: Donepezil; Drug: Venlafaxine; Drug: Duloxetine
2Placebo comparatorescitalopram plus placebo (PBO) in the experimental maintenance phase of the study. For subjects failing to respond to escitalopram during the initial open phase of acute treatment, we allowed the use of duloxetine or venlafaxine to bring about remission and establish eligibility for randomized assignment to maintenance treatment with augmentation placebo. Participants remained on the same antidepressant medication and dosage throughout the 2 year maintenance phase of the study. In the event of a recurrence of major depression during maintenance treatment, dosages of antidepressant medication were raised, or the antidepressant was switched to venlafaxine or duloxetine. For subjects failing to respond to escitalopram during the initial open phase of acute treatment, we allowed the use of venlafaxine or duloxetine to bring about remission and establish eligibility for randomized assignment to maintenance treatment with augmentation placebo.
Receives: Drug: Escitalopram; Drug: Venlafaxine; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Duloxetine

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Global Cognitive Performance

    Cognitive performance was assessed with 17 well established and validated individual tests measuring multiple domains. We transformed raw scores for individual tests into Z-scores using the baseline distribution of a non-depressed, cognitively normal, older adult comparison group (N=36)of similar age, education, and medical health recruited concurrently with the depressed participants. These Z-scores were averaged within each neuropsychological area to produce domain scores and then averaged over all 17 tests to calculate a global cognition performance score.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and Years 1 and 2 in maintenance

  2. Cognitive Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)

    The PASS (a performance-based assessment of instrumental activities of daily living)generates a composite measure of 13 cognitive IADL items capturing performance on activities such as shopping, bill paying, medication management, and home safety. We report the percentage of subjects at each assessment point adjudged to have independent functioning. This was determined by a clinician rater observing subjects perform each task and rating them according to predetermined criteria on a 4 point scale, ranging from 0 (unable) to 3 (independent).

    Measured: baseline, year 1 and year 2

  3. Number of Participants With Recurrence of Major Depression

    Recurrence of major depressive episodes as determined by SCID/DSM IV: two weeks of low mood and/or anhedonia, together with at least five of the following symptoms: suicidal ideation, low energy, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, psychic anxiety or somatic anxiety. In addition, a diagnosis of major depression requires evidence of distress or impairment.

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted15 Sep 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startDec 2003
  3. Primary completionSep 2009
  4. Study completionSep 2009

Resources

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 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
220 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00177671
Sponsor's protocol ID
R01MH043832-03
Other IDs
R01MH043832, 0312018, DATR A4-GPS
Status last verified
Jan 2013
First submitted
13 Sep 2005
Last updated
6 Feb 2013
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Reynolds CF 3rd, Butters MA, Lopez O, Pollock BG, Dew MA, Mulsant BH, Lenze EJ, Holm M, Rogers JC, Mazumdar S, Houck PR, Begley A, Anderson S, Karp JF, Miller MD, Whyte EM, Stack J, Gildengers A, Szanto K, Bensasi S, Kaufer DI, Kamboh MI, DeKosky ST. Maintenance treatment of depression in old age: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of donepezil combined with antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;68(1):51-60. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.184.

    PubMed 21199965
  • Diniz BS, Reynolds CF 3rd, Begley A, Dew MA, Anderson SJ, Lotrich F, Erickson KI, Lopez O, Aizenstein H, Sibille EL, Butters MA. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in late-life depression and comorbid mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study. J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Feb;49:96-101. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.11.004. Epub 2013 Nov 20.

    PubMed 24290367
  • Andreescu C, Tudorascu DL, Butters MA, Tamburo E, Patel M, Price J, Karp JF, Reynolds CF 3rd, Aizenstein H. Resting state functional connectivity and treatment response in late-life depression. Psychiatry Res. 2013 Dec 30;214(3):313-21. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2013.08.007. Epub 2013 Oct 18.

    PubMed 24144505
  • Sheffrin M, Driscoll HC, Lenze EJ, Mulsant BH, Pollock BG, Miller MD, Butters MA, Dew MA, Reynolds CF 3rd. Pilot study of augmentation with aripiprazole for incomplete response in late-life depression: getting to remission. J Clin Psychiatry. 2009 Feb;70(2):208-13. doi: 10.4088/jcp.07m03805. Epub 2009 Feb 10.

    PubMed 19210951
  • Karp JF, Whyte EM, Lenze EJ, Dew MA, Begley A, Miller MD, Reynolds CF 3rd. Rescue pharmacotherapy with duloxetine for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor nonresponders in late-life depression: outcome and tolerability. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;69(3):457-63. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v69n0317.

    PubMed 18251622

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Escitalopram, Donepezil and Venlafaxine in people with Depression and Dementia, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site 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 7 inclusion and 5 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 6 Feb 2013. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 8 Jun 2011). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Global Cognitive Performance (time frame: Measured at baseline and Years 1 and 2 in maintenance). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT00177671, which also lists 5 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 6 Feb 2013.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in