Effect of Quetiapine on Sleep Architecture in Bipolar Depression and Major Depressive Disorder

Clinical practice indicates that Quetiapine has sedating properties, and its sedative effects may play an important role in restoring quality of sleep in patients with various psychiatric conditions who frequently experience sleep disturbances as part of their illness. It is well known that depressive disorders are very frequently associated with significant sleep disturbance. Sleep disruption is a feature of Bipolar Disorder during both Depressed and Manic/Hypomanic episodes. Considering that Seroquel has good antidepressant properties (Calabrese, 2004), the investigators suggest that Seroquel's effect on sleep architecture contributes to its antidepressant properties.

Primary Objective:

To assess the objective (polysomnographic) change in sleep quality before and after introduction of Seroquel (Quetiapine) in treatment of patients with Bipolar Depression or Major Depressive Disorder.

Secondary Objectives:

To assess the objective (polysomnographic) and subjective changes in sleep quality parameters before and at different stages after introduction of Seroquel (Quetiapine) treatment, longitudinally, and to correlate these changes with measures of illness severity.

Study Design:

Prospective polysomnographic (PSG) study of patients before and after treatment with Seroquel (Quetiapine). PSG recordings will be done three (optional four) times during the study: before starting the Seroquel (Quetiapine) (baseline), at day 2 to 4 (early) and day 21 to 28 (longer term). (Optional fourth PSG can be done at day 42-56). PSG will be completed at patients home with a portable PSG.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provision of written informed consent;
2. A diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 1,2 or NOS by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fourth Edition (DSM-IV);OR Major Depressive Disorder
3. Males or Females aged 18 years or more;
4. Female patients of childbearing potential must be using a reliable method of contraception and have a negative urine human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test at enrolment;
5. Able to understand and comply with the requirements of the study;
6. Current depressive episode with a HAM-D17 score of 15 or more.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current Manic, Hypomanic or Mixed episode, with YMRS 12 or more;
2. Current or past diagnosis of Schizophrenia;
3. Pregnant women, or women in childbearing age, not willing to use appropriate contraception or women currently nursing;
4. Patient on antipsychotic medication;
5. Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator, pose an imminent risk of suicide or a danger to self or others;
6. Known intolerance or lack of response to quetiapine fumarate, as judged by the investigator;
7. Use of any of the following cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors in the 14 days preceding enrolment including but not limited to: ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, fluvoxamine and saquinavir;
8. Use of any of the following cytochrome P450 inducers in the 14 days preceding enrolment including but not limited to: phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin, St. John's Wort, and glucocorticoids;
9. Administration of a depot antipsychotic injection within one dosing interval (for the depot) before randomization;
10. Substance or alcohol dependence at enrolment (except dependence in full remission, and except for caffeine or nicotine dependence), as defined by DSM-IV criteria;
11. Opiates, amphetamine, barbiturate, cocaine, cannabis, or hallucinogen dependence by DSM-IV criteria within 4 weeks prior to enrolment;
12. Medical conditions that would affect absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of study treatment;
13. Unstable or inadequately treated medical illness (e.g., diabetes, angina pectoris, hypertension) as judged by the investigator;
14. Involvement in the planning and conduct of the study;
15. Previous enrolment in the present study;
16. Participation in another drug trial within 4 weeks prior enrolment into this study or longer in accordance with local requirements;
17. If participant's liver function testing is rated 2 in the upper limits of normal.
18. Diagnosis of Dementia
19. Regular use of benzodiazepines unless at a stable dose for at least 12 weeks.