NMDA Modulation in Antidepressant Nonresponders With Major Depressive Disorder

Sponsor
China Medical University Hospital (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05136755
Collaborator
(none)
50
1
2
34.2
1.5

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Most of the current antidepressants for major depressive disorder (MDD) are based upon the monoamine hypothesis which cannot fully explain the etiology of depression. NMDA hypofunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of an NMDA enhancer (NMDAE) in the treatment of antidepressant nonresponders with MDD.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Phase 2

Detailed Description

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multi-factorial disorder. Most of the current antidepressants are based upon the monoamine hypothesis which cannot fully explain the etiology of depression. Many patients respond poorly to antidepressants and suffer from side effects. NMDA hypofunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. MDD is often associated with cognitive deficits which are not necessarily recovered by current antidepressants. The NMDA receptor regulates synaptic plasticity, memory, and cognition. Therefore, this study aims to examine the efficacy and safety as well as cognitive function improvement of NMDAE in the treatment of antidepressant nonresponders with MDD. The investigators will enroll a total of 50 antidepressant nonresponders with MDD. All patients, continuing their originally ongoing treatment throughout the study period, will be randomly assigned into either of two treatment groups: NMDAE or placebo. We will biweekly measure clinical performances using 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Global Assessment of Function, Perceived Stress Scale, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, Clinical Global Impression, and side effects. Quality of life and cognitive functions will be assessed at baseline and at endpoint of treatment.

The efficacies of NMDAE and placebo will be compared. Chi-square (or Fisher's exact test) will be used to compare differences of categorical variables and t-test (or Mann-Whitney test if the distribution is not normal) for continuous variables between treatment groups. Mean changes from baseline in repeated-measure assessments will be assessed using the generalized estimating equation (GEE). All p values for clinical measures will be based on two-tailed tests with a significance level of 0.05.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
50 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
NMDA Modulation in Antidepressant Nonresponders With Major Depressive Disorder
Actual Study Start Date :
Jan 25, 2022
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Nov 1, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Dec 1, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: NMDAE

An NMDA enhancer

Drug: NMDAE
Use of an NMDA enhancer for the treatment of antidepressant nonresponders with MDD

Placebo Comparator: Placebo

Placebo

Drug: Placebo Cap
Use of placebo as a comparator

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8]

    Assessment of depressive symptoms Minimum value: 0, maximum value:52, the higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  2. Change in Global Assessment of Functioning [Week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8]

    Assessment of global improvement. Minimum value: 1, maximum value:100, the higher scores mean a better outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change Change in Perceived Stress Scalein Perceived Stress Scale [week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8]

    Assessment of stress and anxiety symptoms Minimum value: 0, maximum value:56, the higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  2. Visual Analogue Scale for pain [week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8]

    Assessment of pain Minimum value: 0, maximum value:10, the higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  3. Clinical Global Impression [week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8]

  4. Quality of life (SF-36) [week 0, 8]

  5. Visual Continuous Performance Test [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of sustained attention

  6. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of abstract and shift set

  7. Logical Memory Test of the Wechsler Memory Scale [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of episodic memory

  8. Digit Span [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of verbal working memory

  9. Spatial Span [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of nonverbal working memory

  10. Category Fluency [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of speed of processing

  11. Trail Marking A [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of speed of processing

  12. WAIS-III Digit Symbol-Coding [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of speed of processing

  13. Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) V2.0 [week 0, 8]

    Assessment of social cognition

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Have a DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association) diagnosis of MDD

  • Have failed to respond to at least one antidepressant with adequate dosage and treatment duration

  • Their original treatments should have been unchanged for at least 8 weeks. Some treatment-resistant patients (that is, having failed to respond to at least two different classes of antidepressants) who have started to refuse any antidepressant by themselves due to previous failure experience are also allowed, if they have already been antidepressant-free for at least 2 weeks

  • 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score ≥ 18

  • Agree to participate in the study and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Current substance abuse or history of substance dependence in the past 6 months

  • History of epilepsy, head trauma, stroke or other serious medical or neurological illness which may interfere with the study

  • Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder

  • Moderate-severe suicidal risks

  • Severe cognitive impairment

  • Initiating or stopping formal psychotherapy within six weeks prior to enrollment

  • A history of previously received electroconvulsive therapy

  • Inability to follow protocol

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital Taichung Taiwan

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • China Medical University Hospital

Investigators

None specified.

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
China Medical University Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05136755
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • CMUH110-REC3-123
First Posted:
Nov 29, 2021
Last Update Posted:
Jan 26, 2022
Last Verified:
Jan 1, 2022
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by China Medical University Hospital
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jan 26, 2022