Neuroinflammation and Modulating Factors in Depression and HIV

Sponsor
University of Minnesota (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT04286282
Collaborator
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (NIH)
300
1
3
19.9
15.1

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Determine if depression, which persists after depression treatment at 26 weeks, is associated with increased innate inflammation in a prospective cohort of HIV-infected Ugandans receiving SSRIs in which group psychotherapy is initiated.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Group Pyschotherapy
  • Other: Depression Standard of Care
  • Other: HIV Standard of Care
Phase 2

Detailed Description

Depression in HIV is a complex co-morbidity with both social factors such as stigma as well as biologic components. Disruptions in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and catecholamines are known to cause depression. Inflammation caused by diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and HIV is associated with higher rates of depression. HIV causes inflammation throughout the body, but since the virus can cross the blood-brain-barrier, HIV can replicate in and target the brain causing neuroinflammation which predisposes depression. However the pathophysiology of the role of inflammation in comorbid depression and HIV is poorly understood.

  1. Among depressed HIV-infected Ugandans, determine if the resolution of depression at 26 weeks of HIV therapy is improved with group psychotherapy.

  2. In the same population determine if persistent depression is associated with higher levels of innate inflammation. Also, compare baseline and follow up inflammation among depressed compared to non-depressed control group.

  3. Evaluate if viral suppression levels at 26 weeks are improved by group psychotherapy.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
300 participants
Allocation:
Non-Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Neuroinflammation and Modulating Factors in Depression and HIV: The Growth Study-Group Therapy in HIV for Depression IN Uganda
Actual Study Start Date :
Feb 1, 2021
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Sep 30, 2022
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Sep 30, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard of Care

The first 100 participants with HIV and depression will receive standard of care including SSRI therapy.

Other: Depression Standard of Care
Standard clinical care for depression, which may include the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Other: HIV Standard of Care
Standard clinical care for HIV

Experimental: Standard of Care + Group Support Psychotherapy

The second 100 participants with HIV and depression will receive standard of care, including SSRI therapy, and group support psychotherapy.

Behavioral: Group Pyschotherapy
Group psychotherapy

Other: Depression Standard of Care
Standard clinical care for depression, which may include the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Other: HIV Standard of Care
Standard clinical care for HIV

Active Comparator: Standard of Care (Non-Depressed)

100 participants with HIV and without depression will receive standard of care therapy for HIV and no depression treatment.

Other: HIV Standard of Care
Standard clinical care for HIV

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 [Baseline, 26 weeks]

    The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 is a 9-item survey measuring degree of depression severity over the previous 2 weeks. Items assess how often the patient has been bothered by specific symptoms and are rated on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Total score is an unweighted sum of the 9 item scores, with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.

  2. Change in Plasma Interleukin (IL)-6 Concentration [Baseline, 26 weeks]

    Plasma concentration of IL-6 will be measured using Luminex magnetic bead technology and reported in ng/ml.

  3. Change in Morning Plasma Cortisol Concentration [Baseline, 26 weeks]

    Plasma cortisol concentration will be measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and reported in ng/ml.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:

For the depressed patient arm,

  • Newly-presenting clinic patients (<3 months)

  • Mild to Moderately-Severe Depressive Symptoms with PHQ-9 score >5 but <20

  • Not suicidal (PHQ-9 question 9 score >2)

  • Not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at screening

  • Outpatient, not requiring hospitalization

For the non-depressed patient arm,

  • Newly-presenting clinic patients (<3 months)

  • Not suicidal (PHQ-9 question 9 score >2)

  • Not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at screening

  • Outpatient, not requiring hospitalization

Exclusion Criteria:
  • No additional exclusion criteria

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Infectious Diseases Institute Kampala Uganda

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University of Minnesota
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sarah Lofgren, MD, University of Minnesota

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
University of Minnesota
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT04286282
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • STUDY00006374
  • K23MH121220
First Posted:
Feb 26, 2020
Last Update Posted:
Aug 3, 2022
Last Verified:
Aug 1, 2022
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Aug 3, 2022