Trial Outcomes & Findings for Study of Neural Responses Induced by Antidepressant Effects (NCT NCT02674529)

NCT ID: NCT02674529

Last Updated: 2022-11-03

Results Overview

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a ten-item diagnostic questionnaire which psychiatrists use to measure the severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. It was designed in 1979 by British and Swedish researchers as an adjunct to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) which would be more sensitive to the changes brought on by antidepressants and other forms of treatment than the Hamilton Scale was.\[2\] There is, however, a high degree of statistical correlation between scores on the two measures.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Target enrollment

60 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

baseline and week 8

Results posted on

2022-11-03

Participant Flow

Six participants were excluded after enrollment for the following reasons: leaving the study site without informing study team, asking for extra-time to consider the study, feeling uncomfortable in the fMRI and asking to exit the scanner, testing positive for pregnancy tests, feeling indecisive, and not responding to contact attempts.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Antidepressant Treatment
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Placebo
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Overall Study
STARTED
25
29
Overall Study
COMPLETED
22
24
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
3
5

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Antidepressant Treatment
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Placebo
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
1
2
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2
1
Overall Study
Physician Decision
0
1
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
0
1

Baseline Characteristics

Study of Neural Responses Induced by Antidepressant Effects

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Antidepressant Treatment
n=25 Participants
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Placebo
n=29 Participants
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Total
n=54 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
25 Participants
n=5 Participants
29 Participants
n=7 Participants
54 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
25.44 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.33 • n=5 Participants
23.45 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.65 • n=7 Participants
24.18 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.76 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
26 Participants
n=7 Participants
46 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
29 Participants
n=7 Participants
52 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
15 Participants
n=7 Participants
29 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
25 participants
n=5 Participants
29 participants
n=7 Participants
54 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: baseline and week 8

Population: Scores can range from 0-60, with higher scores meaning greater the depression severity. The greater the change in MADRS scores from baseline, the better the outcome. 46 participants were analyzed, with 8 participants lost to follow up.

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a ten-item diagnostic questionnaire which psychiatrists use to measure the severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. It was designed in 1979 by British and Swedish researchers as an adjunct to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) which would be more sensitive to the changes brought on by antidepressants and other forms of treatment than the Hamilton Scale was.\[2\] There is, however, a high degree of statistical correlation between scores on the two measures.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Antidepressant Treatment Arm
n=22 Participants
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Placebo Arm
n=24 Participants
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Scores
11 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9
12 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: baseline and 8 weeks

Population: Scores can range from 0-27, with higher scores meaning greater the depression severity. The greater the change in QIDS scores from baseline to week 8, the better the outcome. 46 participants were analyzed, with 8 participants lost to follow up.

The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) is a 16-item, self-reported measure of depression that ranges from 1 (no depression) to 27 (very severe depression).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Antidepressant Treatment Arm
n=22 Participants
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Placebo Arm
n=24 Participants
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) Scores
6.82 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.01
5.54 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.45

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline

Voxel-wise BOLD changes during the expectancy condition of the Sham Neurofeedback fMRI task.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Antidepressant Treatment Arm
n=54 Participants
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Changes in MADRS Scores From Baseline to Week 8 Within the Placebo Arm
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Neural Responses During the Sham Neurofeedback fMRI Task.
1.1 BOLD signal change
Interval 0.47 to 1.61

Adverse Events

Antidepressant Treatment

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 22 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 18 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Antidepressant Treatment
n=25 participants at risk
20mg of escitalopram will be taken over an 8-week period, starting with 10mg for the first week. Escitalopram: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Placebo
n=29 participants at risk
A placebo pill will be taken over an 8-week period. Placebo: Placebo
Gastrointestinal disorders
Appetite Disturbances
24.0%
6/25 • Number of events 8 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gastrointestinal Discomfort
12.0%
3/25 • Number of events 6 • Eight weeks.
6.9%
2/29 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea
24.0%
6/25 • Number of events 9 • Eight weeks.
10.3%
3/29 • Number of events 7 • Eight weeks.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Weight Loss
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Dizziness
20.0%
5/25 • Number of events 5 • Eight weeks.
6.9%
2/29 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Vivid Dreams/Nightmares
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 4 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Headache
12.0%
3/25 • Number of events 3 • Eight weeks.
6.9%
2/29 • Number of events 3 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Worsening of Depressive Symptoms
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 3 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Anxiety
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
10.3%
3/29 • Number of events 6 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Distractibility
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Nervous system disorders
Hypomania
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Insomnia
12.0%
3/25 • Number of events 4 • Eight weeks.
17.2%
5/29 • Number of events 5 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Fatigue
48.0%
12/25 • Number of events 31 • Eight weeks.
17.2%
5/29 • Number of events 6 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Yawning
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Dry Mouth
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 6 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Increased Thirst
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 7 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 3 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Palpitations/Increased Heart Rate
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 4 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Sweating
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Sexual Dysfunction
8.0%
2/25 • Number of events 6 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
General disorders
Urinary Urgency
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
6.9%
2/29 • Number of events 5 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Leg Pain
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Cold/Sore Throat
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Broken Wrist
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Ovarian Cyst Rupture
4.0%
1/25 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
0.00%
0/29 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Food Poisoning
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Vision Issues
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Urinary Tract Infection
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Gonorrhea
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
COVID-19
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 2 • Eight weeks.
Social circumstances
Teeth Grinding/Jaw Clenching
0.00%
0/25 • Eight weeks.
3.4%
1/29 • Number of events 1 • Eight weeks.

Additional Information

Project Research Coordinator

University of Pittsburgh

Phone: 412-376-3913

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place