VA Augmentation and Switching Treatments for Improving Depression Outcomes
NCT ID: NCT01421342
Last Updated: 2018-05-29
Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
PHASE3
1522 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2012-12-31
2016-06-30
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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These options may be conceptualized as representing two overall treatment strategies: 1) Medication Switch - switching from the initial antidepressant to another antidepressant medication, specifically bupropion-SR and 2) Medication Augmentation - augmenting the initial antidepressant with a second antidepressant, specifically bupropion-SR or a second generation antipsychotic, specifically aripiprazole. VAST-D's primary goal is to determine which of these 3 treatment strategies is most likely to lead to remission. Other key objectives include comparisons of response, time to remission, time to response, relapse, anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation and behaviors, side effects, tolerability, quality of life, health related costs and satisfaction with participation in the study.
VAST-D will enroll 1518 total patients of both genders and all ethnic/racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. All patients will meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV-TR (text revised) criteria for nonpsychotic MDD. The diagnostic criteria for eligibility will be established by clinical interview supplemented with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Final determination for eligibility will be made by the study clinician. Only participants with a suboptimal outcome to a well documented, adequately delivered (dose and duration), trial with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) or mirtazapine will be eligible for the study. Failure to achieve an adequate outcome will be ascertained by a score on the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Clinician rated (QIDS-C16) scale \>= 16 (considered severe depression) after at least 6 weeks of treatment or QIDS-C16 \>= 11 (considered moderately severe depression) after at least 8 weeks of treatment. Otherwise, the inclusion criteria are broad and the exclusion criteria are few; participants with most comorbid general medical or psychiatric disorders are generally included to provide a broadly representative sample.
Participants will be randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to switch to bupropion-SR alone (n=506), current antidepressant plus bupropion-SR (n=506), or current antidepressant plus aripiprazole (n=506). Treatment will be guided by clinician-rated symptom measures (the PHQ-9) and global side effects measures (the Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating or FIBSER) obtained at each treatment visit. Acute treatment visits will occur at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 to ensure delivery of appropriate and yet vigorous and tolerable pharmacotherapy. Participants who tolerate the acute treatment and achieve adequate response at 12 weeks will enter the 24-week Continuation Treatment phase, during which the initial treatment will continue and visits will occur every four weeks subsequently until patients have been followed for 36 weeks post-randomization. The QIDS-C16 will be administered at baseline and at each follow-up visit by an independent evaluator (who will be blinded to treatment assignment) to measure symptoms of depression for the study outcomes of remission, response and relapse. Neither the participant nor the treating clinician will be blinded to treatment.
Primary hypotheses:
Primary hypothesis 1.a: Remission rate from major depressive disorder will be higher in patients whose treatment is augmented with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR) compared to those switched to bupropion-SR monotherapy.
Primary Hypothesis 1.b: Remission rate from major depressive disorder will be higher in patients whose treatment is augmented with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole) compared to those switched to bupropion-SR monotherapy.
Secondary hypotheses:
Secondary Hypothesis 2.a: Remission rate will be greater in patients whose treatment is augmented with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR) than in those augmented with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole).
Secondary Hypothesis 2.b: Relapse rate (within 36 weeks of the initiation of treatment) will be lower in patients whose antidepressant is augmented with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR) than in those whose antidepressant is switched to bupropion-SR monotherapy.
Secondary Hypothesis 2.c: Relapse rate (within 36 weeks of the initiation of treatment) will be lower in patients whose treatment is augmented with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole) vs. those switched to bupropion-SR monotherapy.
Secondary Hypothesis 2.d: Relapse rate (within 36 weeks of the initiation of treatment) will be lower in patients whose treatment is augmented with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR) than in patients whose treatment was augmented with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole).
Secondary Hypothesis 2.e: The proportion of patients who develop akathisia, other akathisia-like side effects (e.g., tremor, irritability, motor restlessness) and extrapyramidal side effects will be greater in the patients whose antidepressant treatment is augmented with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole) compared to patients whose treatment is augmented with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR), or switched to bupropion-SR monotherapy.
Secondary Hypothesis 2.f: The relative costs (direct and indirect) of augmenting an antidepressant with aripiprazole (antidepressant + aripiprazole) will be greater than the costs of antidepressant augmentation with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR), and the costs of antidepressant augmentation with bupropion-SR (antidepressant + bupropion-SR) will be greater than the costs of switching to bupropion-SR monotherapy, and augmentation and monotherapy with bupropion-SR will be more cost-effective than aripiprazole augmentation.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Switching: Bupropion-SR
Switching: Bupropion-SR
Switching: Bupropion-SR
Bupropion-SR (Dose: 150 mg - 400 mg taken per day orally for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with bupropion-SR dose of 150 mg, then increasing dose per protocol up to 400 mg (200 mg BID), maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Bupropion-SR
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Bupropion-SR
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Bupropion-SR
Current antidepressant (either a SSRI or a SNRI or mirtazapine): Continue the dose prescribed at time of enrollment, or adjust depending on response or side effect profile for up to 36 weeks.
And
Bupropion-SR (Dose: 150 mg - 400 mg taken per day orally for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with bupropion-SR dose of 150 mg, then increasing dose per protocol up to 400 mg (200 mg BID), maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
Current antidepressant (either a SSRI or a SNRI or mirtazapine): Continue the dose prescribed at time of enrollment or adjust depending on response or side effect profile for up to 36 weeks.
And
Aripiprazole (Dose: 2 mg - 15 mg taken orally once per day for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with aripiprazole dose of 2 mg for one week, then increasing dose per protocol up to 15 mg, maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Interventions
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Switching: Bupropion-SR
Bupropion-SR (Dose: 150 mg - 400 mg taken per day orally for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with bupropion-SR dose of 150 mg, then increasing dose per protocol up to 400 mg (200 mg BID), maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Bupropion-SR
Current antidepressant (either a SSRI or a SNRI or mirtazapine): Continue the dose prescribed at time of enrollment, or adjust depending on response or side effect profile for up to 36 weeks.
And
Bupropion-SR (Dose: 150 mg - 400 mg taken per day orally for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with bupropion-SR dose of 150 mg, then increasing dose per protocol up to 400 mg (200 mg BID), maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Augmenting: Antidepressant + Aripiprazole
Current antidepressant (either a SSRI or a SNRI or mirtazapine): Continue the dose prescribed at time of enrollment or adjust depending on response or side effect profile for up to 36 weeks.
And
Aripiprazole (Dose: 2 mg - 15 mg taken orally once per day for up to 36 weeks): Initiating with aripiprazole dose of 2 mg for one week, then increasing dose per protocol up to 15 mg, maintaining or decreasing dose for up to 36 weeks depending on response and side effect profile through the acute and continuation phases.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Currently taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) or mirtazapine for major depressive disorder
* Need for "next-step" treatment based on documented suboptimal outcome from current antidepressant treatment for major depressive episode (at least 6 weeks treatment with a QIDS-C16 \>= 16 or at least 8 weeks with a QIDS-C16 \>= 11; and at least 3 weeks at a stable "optimal" dose
* Age: 18 years of age or older
Exclusion Criteria
* Current treatment with bupropion, aripiprazole or any other antipsychotic agent
* Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychosis not otherwise specified
* Current diagnosis of Dementia
* Current diagnosis of an eating disorder or a seizure disorder
* High suicide risk currently requiring acute intervention (other than outpatient treatment of depression)
* Unstable, serious medical condition or one requiring acute medical treatment, or anticipation of hospitalization for extended care
* Requiring immediate hospitalization for psychiatric disorders
* Taking any concomitant medication that contraindicates any of treatment options or augmenting agents known to have an antidepressant effect
* Concurrent or recent participation (within the last 30 days) in another conflicting clinical trial with a mental health, investigational drug, or medical device intervention
* Female - pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant
* Patient was not able or willing to provide informed consent; or changed mind about participating prior to randomization
* Patient was not referred to the study
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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VA Office of Research and Development
FED
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Somaia Mohamed, PhD
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
Sidney Zisook, MD
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
Locations
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Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, United States
VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA
Loma Linda, California, United States
VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA
Long Beach, California, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, California, United States
VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
San Diego, California, United States
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, California, United States
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, CO
Denver, Colorado, United States
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL
Miami, Florida, United States
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida, United States
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
Decatur, Georgia, United States
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL
Hines, Illinois, United States
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Omaha VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Asheville VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC
Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Salisbury W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC
Salisbury, North Carolina, United States
Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
Temple, Texas, United States
Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA
Salem, Virginia, United States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System American Lake Division, Tacoma, WA
Tacoma, Washington, United States
Clarksburg Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, Clarksburg, WV
Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Countries
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References
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Mohamed S, Johnson GR, Vertrees JE, Guarino PD, Weingart K, Young IT, Yoon J, Gleason TC, Kirkwood KA, Kilbourne AM, Gerrity M, Marder S, Biswas K, Hicks P, Davis LL, Chen P, Kelada A, Huang GD, Lawrence DD, LeGwin M, Zisook S. The VA augmentation and switching treatments for improving depression outcomes (VAST-D) study: Rationale and design considerations. Psychiatry Res. 2015 Oct 30;229(3):760-70. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.08.005. Epub 2015 Aug 6.
Zisook S, Tal I, Weingart K, Hicks P, Davis LL, Chen P, Yoon J, Johnson GR, Vertrees JE, Rao S, Pilkinton PD, Wilcox JA, Sapra M, Iranmanesh A, Huang GD, Mohamed S. Characteristics of U.S. Veteran Patients with Major Depressive Disorder who require "next-step" treatments: A VAST-D report. J Affect Disord. 2016 Dec;206:232-240. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.023. Epub 2016 Jul 26.
Mohamed S, Johnson GR, Chen P, Hicks PB, Davis LL, Yoon J, Gleason TC, Vertrees JE, Weingart K, Tal I, Scrymgeour A, Lawrence DD, Planeta B, Thase ME, Huang GD, Zisook S; and the VAST-D Investigators; Rao SD, Pilkinton PD, Wilcox JA, Iranmanesh A, Sapra M, Jurjus G, Michalets JP, Aslam M, Beresford T, Anderson KD, Fernando R, Ramaswamy S, Kasckow J, Westermeyer J, Yoon G, D'Souza DC, Larson G, Anderson WG, Klatt M, Fareed A, Thompson SI, Carrera CJ, Williams SS, Juergens TM, Albers LJ, Nasdahl CS, Villarreal G, Winston JL, Nogues CA, Connolly KR, Tapp A, Jones KA, Khatkhate G, Marri S, Suppes T, LaMotte J, Hurley R, Mayeda AR, Niculescu AB 3rd, Fischer BA, Loreck DJ, Rosenlicht N, Lieske S, Finkel MS, Little JT. Effect of Antidepressant Switching vs Augmentation on Remission Among Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Unresponsive to Antidepressant Treatment: The VAST-D Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 Jul 11;318(2):132-145. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.8036.
Zisook S, Johnson GR, Planeta B, Mohamed S. How Does Positive Mental Health Affect Next-Step Treatment Outcomes in Treatment-Resistant Depression? A VAST-D Report. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2025 Sep-Oct 01;45(5):421-431. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000002051. Epub 2025 Jul 31.
Zisook S, Planeta B, Hicks PB, Chen P, Davis LL, Villarreal G, Sapra M, Johnson GR, Mohamed S. Childhood adversity and adulthood major depressive disorder. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2022 May-Jun;76:36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.03.008. Epub 2022 Mar 24.
Zisook S, Johnson GR, Hicks P, Chen P, Beresford T, Michalets JP, Rao S, Thase ME, Wilcox J, Sevilimedu V, Mohamed S. Continuation phase treatment outcomes for switching, combining, or augmenting strategies for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder: A VAST-D report. Depress Anxiety. 2021 Feb;38(2):185-195. doi: 10.1002/da.23114. Epub 2020 Nov 22.
Mohamed S, Johnson GR, Sevilimedu V, Rao SD, Hicks PB, Chen P, Lauro K, Jurjus G, Pilkinton P, Davis L, Wilcox JA, Iranmanesh A, Sapra M, Aslam M, Michalets J, Thase M, Zisook S; CSP#576 VAST-D Investigators. Impact of Concurrent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Outcomes of Antipsychotic Augmentation for Major Depressive Disorder With a Prior Failed Treatment: VAST-D Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2020 Jun 23;81(4):19m13038. doi: 10.4088/JCP.19m13038.
Zisook S, Johnson GR, Tal I, Hicks P, Chen P, Davis L, Thase M, Zhao Y, Vertrees J, Mohamed S. General Predictors and Moderators of Depression Remission: A VAST-D Report. Am J Psychiatry. 2019 May 1;176(5):348-357. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18091079. Epub 2019 Apr 5.
Yoon J, Zisook S, Park A, Johnson GR, Scrymgeour A, Mohamed S. Comparing Cost-Effectiveness of Aripiprazole Augmentation With Other "Next-Step" Depression Treatment Strategies: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018 Dec 18;80(1):18m12294. doi: 10.4088/JCP.18m12294.
Other Identifiers
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576
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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