AzTrials
AzTrials

Depressive Disorder, MajorPhase 3INFLAMEDNCT05415397

Treating Immuno-metabolic Depression With Anti-inflammatory Drugs

A Phase 3 study testing Celecoxib 400mg in people with Depressive Disorder, Major and Inflammation, run by Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc at 1 site in Netherlands.

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

As the role of (neuro)inflammation in depression is emerging, augmentation of antidepressant treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib has shown encouraging preliminary results. However, inflammation is not present in all depressed patients. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Depressive Disorder, Major, Inflammation
What is being tested?
Celecoxib 400mg
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
94 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
28 Sep 2022to 19 Jun 2026
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

  • DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD confirmed with clinical interview (MINI-S voor DSM-5 Nederlandse versie 2019)
  • Currently using pharmacotherapy (e.g., SSRI, SNRI, TCA, TetraCA, MAOI, other antidepressant [bupropion, vortioxetine, agomelatine])) and/or psychotherapy. Subjects should be on the current treatment for at least 4 weeks
  • IDS-SR score ≥26 (moderate to severe depressive symptoms) and a score ≥6 on atypical, energy-related symptoms scale from IDS
  • CRP > 1mg/L
  • A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and one of the following conditions applies: 1) is not a woman of child bearing potential (WOCBP); 2) Is a WOCBP and agrees to use, or is already using, a contraceptive method during the intervention period and up to 1 month after the intervention
  • Signed informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Contraindications for celecoxib (history of: peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, allergic reactions to aspirin/NSAIDs/coxibs; impaired kidney function (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min), impaired liver function (ALT > 2x ULT)
  • ECT in the past 3 months
  • Being on other psychotropic drugs
  • Clinically overt alcohol/drug dependence or other primary psychiatric diagnoses (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, OCD, or bipolar disorder)
  • Chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids
  • Current use of anticoagulants
  • Not speaking Dutch

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Netherlands1 site
  • Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam UMC

    Amsterdam, 1081 HJ

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Precision Psychiatry: Anti-inflammatory Medication in Immuno-metabolic Depression

As the role of (neuro)inflammation in depression is emerging, augmentation of antidepressant treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib has shown encouraging preliminary results. However, inflammation is not present in all depressed patients. Depression is heterogeneous: patients express diverse and sometimes opposing symptoms and biological profiles. The investigators of the present trial recently introduced the concept of ImmunoMetabolic Depression (IMD), characterized by the clustering of inflammatory/metabolic dysregulations and atypical, energy-related symptoms (hyperphagia, weight gain, hypersomnia, fatigue and leaden paralysis), and present in approximately 30% of cases. Converging evidence suggests that in this subgroup of depression cases, inflammation may exert a crucial pathobiological mechanism, representing therefore an actionable therapeutic target. In this trial IMD will be applied as a tool to personalize treatment, by matching depressed subjects with IMD with a targeted anti-inflammatory add-on treatment.

In this study, 140 persons with IMD will be selected. In this specific group of patients, the investigators will test whether celecoxib add-on (400 mg/d) is more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression through a 12-week double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial. By selecting specifically depressed patients with IMD, the proposed treatment selectively targets key inflammatory pathophysiological pathways to enhance clinical outcome for depression. This personalized approach is expected to lead to large health gains for a sizable proportion of patients. The main hypothesis is that the group of patients with IMD receiving TAU + celecoxib, as compared to the TAU + placebo, will show a better symptom course over the 12-week follow-up.

Read the detailed description

Rationale: Depression is a major driver of disability and related health-care costs. Available treatment options are far from optimal, with only ~60% response. Developing effective treatments requires new treatment targets to depression pathophysiology. As the role of (neuro)inflammation in depression is emerging, augmentation of antidepressant treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib has shown encouraging preliminary results. However, inflammation is not present in all depressed patients. Depression is heterogeneous: patients express diverse and sometimes opposing symptoms and biological profiles. The investigators of the present study recently introduced the concept of ImmunoMetabolic Depression (IMD), characterized by the clustering of inflammatory/metabolic dysregulations and atypical, energy-related symptoms (hyperphagia, weight gain, hypersomnia, fatigue and leaden paralysis), and present in 30% of cases. Converging evidence suggests that in this subgroup of depression cases, inflammation may exert a crucial pathobiological mechanism, representing therefore an actionable therapeutic target. In this study IMD will be applied as a tool to personalize treatment, by matching depressed subjects with IMD with a targeted anti-inflammatory add-on treatment. The underlying hypothesis is that this personalized intervention in subjects with IMD, through a reduction of inflammation, lowers depressive symptoms and associated physical fatigue, while increasing functioning compared to placebo.

Objective: Among patients under treatment for depression, 140 persons with IMD will be selected. In this specific group of patients, the investigators will test whether celecoxib add-on (400 mg/d) is more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression through a 12-week double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial.

Study design:12-week double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial Study population: 140 persons with major depressive disorder (DMS-5) with atypical, energy-related symptoms (≥6 on IDS atypical, energy-related symptoms) AND low-grade inflammation (CRP>1mg/L) (e.g. ImmunoMetabolic Depression), and under treatment with SSRI or SNRIs.

Intervention: celecoxib add-on (400 mg/d) vs placebo Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary outcome parameter is the difference in trajectories of depression symptoms, as measured with the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - self-report during follow-up. Secondary outcome parameters include amongst others, response on the IDS, remission, anxiety, fatigue, food craving, sleep and adverse side events.

Being tested
Celecoxib 400mg, Placebo
Keywords
INFLAMED, Depression, Inflammation, Immuno-metabolic Depression, Celecoxib
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Major, Inflammation, Depression

What participants receive

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

  • Celecoxib 400mgDrug

    Also called Celecoxib, ATC M01AH01

    Celecoxib add-on (400mg daily) add-on to treatment as usual (standard antidepressant treatment)

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo add-on to treatment as usual (standard antidepressant treatment)

Study groups in NCT05415397
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CelecoxibExperimentalCelecoxib 400 mg/day, 2 capsules (200 mg) daily, 12 weeks
Receives: Drug: Celecoxib 400mg
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo, 2 capsules daily, 12 weeks
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Depressive symptoms severity

    Depressive symptoms severity measured with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self Report (IDS-SR; score ranging from 0 to 84, higher scores indicate higher severity of depressive symptoms). Trajectories of depressive symptoms will be modeled via mixed models including bi-weekly assessments

    Measured: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Number of participants achieving Response

    Response is defined as 50% reduction in depressive symptoms severity measured with Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self Report (IDS-SR; score ranging from 0 to 84, higher scores indicate higher severity of depressive symptoms)

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Number of participants achieving Remission

    Remission is defined as absence of DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), identified using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview - Simplified (MINI-S voor DSM-5 Nederlandse versie 2019)

    Measured: 12 weeks

  3. Symptom profile: atypical, energy-related depressive symptoms (AES)

    AES measured with 5 items (N 4, 12, 14, 20, 30) of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self Report (IDS-SR). AES score ranging from 0 to 15, higher scores indicate higher severity of depressive symptoms.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted13 Jun 2022
  2. Study start28 Sep 2022
  3. Primary completion19 Jun 2026
  4. Study completion19 Jun 2026

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
12-week double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial comparing celecoxib add-on (400 mg/d) versus placebo add-on to TAU in the treatment of 140 subjects with MDD and Immuno-metabolic Depression features
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
94 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05415397
Sponsor's protocol ID
NL79765.029.21
Acronym
INFLAMED
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
3 Jun 2022
Last updated
21 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual data collected during the study of participants explicitly agreeing on this possibility trough written informed consent; data will be de-identified

Publications

  • Milaneschi Y, Lamers F, Berk M, Penninx BWJH. Depression Heterogeneity and Its Biological Underpinnings: Toward Immunometabolic Depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 1;88(5):369-380. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.01.014. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

    PubMed 32247527
  • Lamers F, Milaneschi Y, Vinkers CH, Schoevers RA, Giltay EJ, Penninx BWJH. Depression profilers and immuno-metabolic dysregulation: Longitudinal results from the NESDA study. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 Aug;88:174-183. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.002. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

    PubMed 32272220
  • Penninx BW, Milaneschi Y, Lamers F, Vogelzangs N. Understanding the somatic consequences of depression: biological mechanisms and the role of depression symptom profile. BMC Med. 2013 May 15;11:129. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-129.

    PubMed 23672628
  • Milaneschi Y, Kappelmann N, Ye Z, Lamers F, Moser S, Jones PB, Burgess S, Penninx BWJH, Khandaker GM. Association of inflammation with depression and anxiety: evidence for symptom-specificity and potential causality from UK Biobank and NESDA cohorts. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Dec;26(12):7393-7402. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01188-w. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

    PubMed 34135474
  • Kohler O, Benros ME, Nordentoft M, Farkouh ME, Iyengar RL, Mors O, Krogh J. Effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on depression, depressive symptoms, and adverse effects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Dec 1;71(12):1381-91. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1611.

    PubMed 25322082
  • Kohler-Forsberg O, N Lydholm C, Hjorthoj C, Nordentoft M, Mors O, Benros ME. Efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatment on major depressive disorder or depressive symptoms: meta-analysis of clinical trials. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2019 May;139(5):404-419. doi: 10.1111/acps.13016. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

    PubMed 30834514
  • Osimo EF, Baxter LJ, Lewis G, Jones PB, Khandaker GM. Prevalence of low-grade inflammation in depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of CRP levels. Psychol Med. 2019 Sep;49(12):1958-1970. doi: 10.1017/S0033291719001454. Epub 2019 Jul 1.

    PubMed 31258105
  • Baune BT, Sampson E, Louise J, Hori H, Schubert KO, Clark SR, Mills NT, Fourrier C. No evidence for clinical efficacy of adjunctive celecoxib with vortioxetine in the treatment of depression: A 6-week double-blind placebo controlled randomized trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 Dec;53:34-46. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.07.092. Epub 2021 Aug 8.

    PubMed 34375789
  • Strawbridge R, Arnone D, Danese A, Papadopoulos A, Herane Vives A, Cleare AJ. Inflammation and clinical response to treatment in depression: A meta-analysis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2015 Oct;25(10):1532-43. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.06.007. Epub 2015 Jun 20.

    PubMed 26169573
  • Zwiep JC, Bet PM, Rhebergen D, Nurmohamed MT, Vinkers CH, Penninx BWJH, Milaneschi Y, Lamers F. Efficacy of celecoxib add-on treatment for immuno-metabolic depression: Protocol of the INFLAMED double-blind placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2022 Dec 30;27:100585. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100585. eCollection 2023 Feb.

    PubMed 36655056

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Celecoxib 400mg in people with Depressive Disorder, Major and Inflammation, run by Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc at 1 site in Netherlands.

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 6 inclusion and 7 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 21 Sep 2026. 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 Netherlands. 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?

Depressive symptoms severity (time frame: 12 weeks). 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 NCT05415397, which also lists 10 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 21 Sep 2026.

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