A Trial of the Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibitor Palmitoylethanolamide in Bipolar Depression

NCT ID: NCT06229977

Last Updated: 2025-10-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-05-17

Study Completion Date

2025-07-17

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to o evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of the PEA in Bipolar Depression and the association between antidepressant response with endogenous cannabinoids and cytokine levels

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Bipolar Depression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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PEA plus Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)

Intervention Type DRUG

Participants will receive PEA at a dose of 600mg twice daily for 6 weeks.

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Intervention Type DRUG

subjects will receive a mood stabilizer per usual care

Placebo plus Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Participants will receive placebo (a tablet that contains no active ingredient) to be taken twice daily for 6 weeks

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Intervention Type DRUG

subjects will receive a mood stabilizer per usual care

Interventions

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Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)

Participants will receive PEA at a dose of 600mg twice daily for 6 weeks.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Participants will receive placebo (a tablet that contains no active ingredient) to be taken twice daily for 6 weeks

Intervention Type DRUG

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

subjects will receive a mood stabilizer per usual care

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Structured Clinical Interview), Fifth Edition, (DSM5), with a score of ≥16 on the 17-item HAM-D
* currently in use of at least one FDA approved mood stabilizer with or without antidepressant
* medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of medical history, physical examination

Exclusion Criteria

* Cannabis misuse according to clinical judgement
* unstable medical condition or uncontrolled medical problem with known central nervous system (CNS) effects
* active DSM-5 substance use disorder in past three months (other than alcohol or nicotine use disorder)
* acute high suicidal risk
* in a manic episode
* current psychotic features or cognitive impairment that would preclude understanding of the consenting process or tests/examination
* pregnant or nursing women
* unstable medical conditions
* clinically significant abnormal laboratory tests based on complete blood count, liver and kidney function when available
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Baszucki Brain Research Fund

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, MD, PhD, MSc

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, M.D, Ph.D., M.Sc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Locations

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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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HSC-MS-21-0989

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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