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Major Depressive DisorderPhase 3NCT00361218

Biological Markers of Response to Treatment in Major Depressive Disorder

A Phase 3 study testing open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Massachusetts General Hospital.

Completed

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

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to find out if two tests are useful in predicting whether someone with depression will get better when he or she is treated with an FDA approved antidepressant medication (either citalopram or escitalopram). 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?
open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
72 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Oct 2005to Dec 2008
Phase
Phase 3
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 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Ages 18-65
  • Meet criteria for current Major Depressive Disorder
  • Antidepressant medication-free for at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the study

Who cannot join

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Anyone who is suicidal
  • Anyone with an unstable medical condition (cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, or hematological), substance abuse problem within the past 6 months, psychoses (past or current), hypothyroidism, or hypomania
  • Anyone currently taking an SSRI
  • Past intolerance to Lexapro or Celexa

About this study

Official title: Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and QEEG as Biological Markers of Response to (Es)Citalopram Treatment in Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this study is to find out if two tests are useful in predicting whether someone with depression will get better when he or she is treated with an FDA approved antidepressant medication (either citalopram or escitalopram).

Read the detailed description

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe form of depression. MDD can significantly interfere with an individual's thoughts, behavior, mood, and physical health. People who suffer from MDD often experience feelings of worthlessness; they may feel hopeless and may be unable to cope with problems in their life. In addition, they often experience sleep disruption, loss of appetite, and chronic pain.

It often takes several weeks to find out if an antidepressant medication is going to work for someone. This research study aims to identify tests that are able to predict if a medication will work, even before a person starts to feel better. The first test is a measurement of the blood protein Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is involved with brain cell growth. The second test is a Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG), which measures brain activity.

The study lasts for 8 weeks and involves 5 total visits to the clinic. Throughout the study, all subjects will receive either escitalopram (Lexapro) or citalopram (Celexa) on the basis of the study doctor's clinical judgment. The dose of the medications can be increased at any point in time if the study doctor thinks it is appropriate. After the first screen visit (which lasts about 3 hours), each subsequent half-hour visit will involve a 2-tablespoon blood draw to measure BDNF levels, as well as a QEEG in which small, painless electrodes are stuck to the subject's forehead and electrical activity of the brain is measured. At the end of the 8 weeks, subjects are offered 3 months of free follow-up care, including medications.

Being tested
open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Keywords
depression, biology
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Major, Depression

What participants receive

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

  • open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)Drug

    Also called escitalopram or citalopram

    Duration is 8 weeks. For escitalopram, starting dose is 10mg po qd,which can be increased up to 30mg po qd per clinical discretion. For citalopram, starting dose is 20mg po qd, which can be increased up to 60mg po qd per clinical discretion.

Study groups in NCT00361218
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)Othercitalopram or escitalopram
Receives: Drug: open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

What is being measured

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

  1. Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels

    "Pre-SSRI BDNF Level" refers to the data collection point before SSRI intake and "Post-SSRI BDNF Level" refers to the data collection point 8 weeks after SSRI intake.

    Measured: 8 weeks

  2. Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) Parameters as Predictors of Response

    Pre-treatment quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) refers to the data collection point before selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment and Post-treatment QEEG refers to the data collection point 8 weeks after SSRI treatment initiation.

    Response refers to a greater than 50% decrease in Hamiton Depression Rating Scale from baseline, which ranges from 0 (no depression) to a maximum of 54 (severe depression).

    Measured: 8 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted8 Aug 2006 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2005
  3. Primary completionDec 2008
  4. Study completionDec 2008

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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
72 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00361218
Sponsor's protocol ID
2005P000413
Status last verified
Apr 2018
First submitted
4 Aug 2006
Last updated
11 May 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing open-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Massachusetts General Hospital.

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 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 11 May 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 26 Sep 2013). 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?

Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels (time frame: 8 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 11 May 2018.

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