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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00200902

Evaluation of Depression Symptoms and Brain Activity Associated With Response to Treatment of Depression

This study will use measurements of depression symptoms and brain activity to determine what factors may influence an individual's response to treatment for depression.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology

Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States

About this study

We are using depression symptom measurements and measurements of brain electrical activity (EEG) to determine what factors may influence whether a patient is likely to show a response to antidepressant medication, placebo, or only clinical visits (without the use of pills) during a treatment trial for depression.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of unipolar major depression

Exclusion criteria

  • Substance abuse
  • Psychotic disorder
  • History of severe head trauma

Treatment and study plan

Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Drug

Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.

Placebo

Other

Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.

Interpersonal Clinical Interaction (ICI)

Behavioral

Interaction with and assessment by clinical research personnel on a fixed schedule, with the pharmacotherapeutic alliance assessed both by research personnel and subjects.

Primary outcomes

  1. Response as Assessed by Participants' Change in Depression Rating

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 8

    Comparison of treatment arms (Medication + ICI, Placebo+ICI, and ICI only). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) used here is a 17-item scale that measures severity of depression. Items are individually scored from 0-4 or from 0-2 depending on the item, and the individual scores for each item are added to comprise one score. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depression. Possible scores on the scale range from a minimum of zero (0) to a maximum of 52.Response is defined as a 50% decrease in HAMD-17 scoring. Remission defined as a HAMD-17 score of 7 or less.

  2. Average Change in 3 Weeks of Participant Treatment Expectations

    Time frame: Averaged over 3 time points (Baseline, randomization, and end of lead-in)

    Patient Attitudes and Expectations Form used for assessing expectation. The California Pharmacotherapy Alliance Scale, a measure associated with outcomes of antidepressant pharmacotherapy, used to measure participants' perceptions of: (a) participants' commitment to treatment; (b) participants' working capacity; (c) treatment providers' understanding and involvement; and (d) goal and working strategy consensus between participant and treatment provider. This is a 24-item questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale (1 = not at all, 7 = very much so). Total score ranges from a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 120. The score is determined by a combination of negative and positive items. To assure negative items are reflected, subtract each of the negative item ratings from 8; for example, a rating of 1 becomes 7 (8 minus 1). The scores are computed by summing the items and dividing the total by 6 to procure the mean rating. A lower score indicates a worse outcome.

  3. Change in Hamilton Depression Assessment Score

    Time frame: Baseline,Week 8

    Comparison of treatment arms (Medication + ICI, Placebo+ICI, and ICI only). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale used here is a 17-item scale that measures severity of depression. Items are individually scored from 0-4 or from 0-2 depending on the item, and the individual scores for each item are added to comprise one score. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depression/worse outcome. Possible scores on the scale range from a minimum of zero (0) to a maximum of 52.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
  • Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer

Registry information

Official study title

Factors of Treatment Response in Major Depressive Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2005
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Sep 20, 2005
Registry last updated
Aug 13, 2024

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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