Assessment of the Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

NCT ID: NCT06692361

Last Updated: 2025-12-02

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

214 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-01-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who exhibit suboptimal early response to antidepressant treatment. Additionally, it sought to investigate the impact of FMT on biological indicators, including intestinal microbiota and metabolites, in individuals with MDD

Detailed Description

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This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of adjunctive FMT in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who show limited response to initial drug therapy.

A total of 600 patients experiencing depressive episodes will be screened, with all receiving escitalopram oxalate for an initial 2-week period. Of these, 214 participants who exhibit suboptimal therapeutic response to early antidepressant treatment will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group or control group.

During the intervention, participants will continue their existing antidepressant regimen and receive a 4-week treatment with either microbiota capsules or placebo. An additional 20-week follow-up assessment will then be conducted to evaluate outcomes.

Conditions

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Escitalopram + FMT

The experimental group will receive escitalopram + FMT capsules (using Oral capsules derived from healthy human fecal microbiota)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

FMT capsule

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

The experimental group will maintain escitalopram treatment and take 1.0 g of FMT capsules orally with breakfast every day for 4 weeks.

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Intervention Type DRUG

Both the experimental group and the placebo group were treated with the maximum tolerated dose of escitalopram.

Escitalopram + placebo

The control group will be treated with escitalopram + placebo (using capsules containing only corn starch)

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Intervention Type DRUG

Both the experimental group and the placebo group were treated with the maximum tolerated dose of escitalopram.

Corn Starch capsules

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

The placebo group will maintain escitalopram treatment and take corn starch capsules 1.0 g orally with breakfast every day for 4 weeks.

Interventions

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FMT capsule

The experimental group will maintain escitalopram treatment and take 1.0 g of FMT capsules orally with breakfast every day for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Both the experimental group and the placebo group were treated with the maximum tolerated dose of escitalopram.

Intervention Type DRUG

Corn Starch capsules

The placebo group will maintain escitalopram treatment and take corn starch capsules 1.0 g orally with breakfast every day for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Other Intervention Names

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microbiota capsule FMT Escitalopram Corn starch

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Outpatient or inpatient, aged 18 to 65 years (inclusive), regardless of gender;
* At the start of the screening phase, participants must meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) or single-episode MDD;
* At the start of the screening phase, participants' score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) must be ≥ 17;
* At the start of the screening phase, participants have not been treated with medication for their current depressive episode;
* At the start of the screening phase, participants are intended to be treated with a single antidepressant medication, Escitalopram;
* The HAMD-17 score after two weeks of treatment with the maximum tolerated dose of escitalopram was reduced by less than 20% compared with the HAMD-17 score at screening;
* Participants must have an education level above primary school and be able to understand the content of the scale;
* Participants sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

* According to DSM-5 criteria, currently or previously diagnosed as bipolar disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, neurocognitive disorder, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, substance-related and addiction disorders;
* Accompanied by significant psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, etc.);
* The patient currently has severe or unstable central nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, kidney, endocrine, blood system or other system diseases, and the researcher believes that the patient is not suitable for inclusion in this study;
* The patient currently has a serious suicide risk, and the HAMD-17 suicide risk item is ≥3 points;
* Suffering from inflammation-related diseases;
* Suffering from gastrointestinal infections, tumors and other structural abnormalities of the digestive system, including but not limited to irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, etc.;
* Previous history of gastrointestinal surgery;
* Continuous use of antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics or traditional Chinese medicine products for medical purposes for more than 2 weeks within 3 months before enrollment in the study;
* Those who are allergic to capsule ingredients and contents;
* Pregnant or lactating patients;
* Patients who are unable (such as difficulty swallowing) or unwilling to swallow capsules;
* Patients who received MECT treatment in the past 6 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Shandong Daizhuang Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tianjin Anding Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

West China Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Wuhu Fourth People's Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Gang Wang

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gang Wang

Director of Beijing Anding Hospital

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Wuhu Fourth People's Hospital

Wuhu, Anhui, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Beijing Anding Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Nangfang Hospital Affiliated of Southern Medical University

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University

Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Shandong Daizhuang Hospital

Jining, Shandong, China

Site Status RECRUITING

West China Hospital Affiliated of Sichuan University

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Tianjin Anding Hospital

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

The Second People's Hospital of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture

Dali, Yunnan, China

Site Status RECRUITING

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Gang Wang

Role: CONTACT

86 + 010-86430066

Facility Contacts

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Gang Wang

Role: primary

86 + 010-86430066

Other Identifiers

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No. 2024-58

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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