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NCT Number: NCT01537068

Desvenlafaxine vs. Placebo Treatment of Chronic Depression

The investigators are studying a new antidepressant medicine, desvenlafaxine, for the treatment of people with chronic depression. Desvenlafaxine (trade name Pristiq) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depression.

The investigators are testing whether this medicine is also effective for adults with a type of chronic depression that is less severe than major depression. This condition is also known as dysthymic disorder or dysthymia. Chronic depression, lasting two or more years, often causes significant suffering and impairment.

In addition, the investigators are using MRI imaging, which uses magnetic signals to make pictures of the brain's structure and also of its functioning. The purpose of MRI imaging in this study is to see whether chronic depression is associated with differences in brain structure or functioning, and whether such differences change after medication or placebo treatment. To test this MRI scans are done at the start of the study and after 12 weeks of medication or placebo treatment. Getting MRI imaging will be an option for participants in this study but is not required.

This study involves a 6 to 12 week double-blind period during which half of the participants will take the new medication and half will take a placebo (an inactive look-alike pill). After the double blind phase, all subjects can be treated for 12 weeks with an FDA-approved antidepressant medication.

Assessments (of depressive symptoms, social functioning, and personality) will be done by study staff and by patients before the study starts, at each study visit for the first 12 weeks, and again after 24 weeks in the study.

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Key information

Conditions

Dysthymic Disorder Chronic Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder Dysthymia Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

20 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Depression Evaluation Service (DES), New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, United States

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About this study

The investigators wish to study acute efficacy for 12 weeks on a double blind basis and continued response after open-label treatment at week 24 follow-up. It is important to establish the acute (12 week) efficacy of desvenlafaxine in non-major chronic depression. Also, given that non-major chronic depression is by definition chronic, it is important to demonstrate that benefit persists at follow-up assessment (24 weeks); this is clinically important in trying to alleviate the significant psychosocial morbidity associated with this disorder.

The investigators believe this study will have significant value in the treatment of patients with non-major chronic depression, and will add significantly to what remains an extremely small scientific literature.

The investigators would also like to study the effects of desvenlafaxine on brain structure and function. Learning that a medication reduces symptoms does not teach us how the medication achieves this outcome. Participants in this study can have the opportunity to participate in MRI scanning that will help to understand the mechanisms by with desvenlafaxine is effective. MRI scans are done prior to starting the clinical trial and then again after completing the double blind clinical trial.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male and female outpatients 20 to 65 years of age, inclusive
  • Principal DSM-5 diagnosis of unipolar non-major Chronic Depressive Disorder (including Major Depression in partial remission, Major Depression, residual, Dysthymic Disorder, or Depressive Disorder NOS)
  • Minimum of 2 years duration of the current episode of depressive disorder.
  • Score of 12 or higher on the Hamilton Depression Scale (24 items) at baseline

Exclusion criteria

  • Full remission of depression in past 24 months
  • Current major depression diagnosis, psychotic illness
  • Current risk of suicide
  • Drug or alcohol abuse/dependence in past 6 months
  • Active medical illness
  • Prior nonresponse to desvenlafaxine
  • Medical illness contraindicating use of desvenlafaxine
  • Current or planned pregnancy during study period

Treatment and study plan

Desvenlafaxine

Drug

Desvenlafaxine oral dose ranging from 50 to 100 mg/day

Other names: Pristiq

Placebo

Drug

Matching placebo pills

Other names: Inactive comparator

Primary outcomes

  1. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS24)

    Time frame: Baseline

    HDRS-24 total score, standardly used rating scale for depression. Score 0-7 no depression; Score 8-16 mild depression; Score 17-23 moderate depression; Score 24 and up severe depression. Range= 0 to 75, higher score=worse depression

  2. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS24)

    Time frame: Week 12

    HDRS-24 total score, standardly used rating scale for depression. Score 0-7 no depression; Score 8-16 mild depression; Score 17-23 moderate depression; Score 24 and up severe depression. Range= 0 to 75, higher score=worse depression

Secondary outcomes

  1. Response Rate

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Assessment of overall improvement: based on HDRS and Clinical Global Improvement Scale Response Rate is defined as 50% improvement of Hamd24 summary scores from baseline.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • Pfizer

Registry information

Official study title

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) vs. Placebo in the Treatment of Chronic Depression

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Feb 22, 2012
Registry last updated
Sep 11, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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