Clinical trial NCT00429169: Paroxetine/Bupropion in Suicide Attempters/Ideators With Major Depression
Official title: Paroxetine Versus Bupropion for Suicide Ideators or Attempters With Major Depressive Disorder
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Depression
Keywords: Major Depressive Disorder
MDD
Lead sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2007-01-31
Enrollment: 101
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The primary study comparing effectiveness for suicidal ideation and/or behavior of two antidepressant medications in depressed patients who have attempted suicide or are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts has been completed.

A secondary study component using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate different medication effects on reward processing in the same sample is ongoing.

Detailed description: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and serious psychiatric illness. It is among the leading causes of disability and is the psychiatric disorder most often associated with suicide. The treatment of MDD with antidepressant medication remains largely trial and error. Little empirical evidence exists to guide the treatment of MDD when suicide risk is a major factor. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant medication that works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance. The study compared the effectiveness of paroxetine, an SSRI, versus bupropion, a non-SSRI, on suicidal ideation and/or behavior in depressed patients with a past suicide attempt and/or current suicidal thoughts. Results of the completed primary study have been published (Grunebaum MF et al. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012 Feb;37(3):697-706).

In the ongoing secondary neuro-imaging component of the study, Participants are randomly assigned to either paroxetine or bupropion treatment for 8 weeks with fMRI scans involving a reward processing task at baseline and Week 8. Weekly study visits include interviews with a psychologist, self-report scales, and medication monitoring. All participants will then be offered 4 additional months of open clinical treatment. If original medication assignments prove to be ineffective, participants will have the option to switch to another medication. After completing the study, participants will be referred for ongoing treatment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently suffering from a major depressive episode (unipolar only)
* History of a past suicide attempt or score greater than 2 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) item #3 (suicide) at in-person screening interview. Patients with suicidal plan or intent will only be enrolled as inpatients if independent inpatient treatment team agrees.
* Patients 60 years of age and older must score at least 25 on MMSE at screening.
* Patients 60 years of age and older must have a normal ECG within the past year.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any of the following conditions: bipolar disorder; current psychotic symptoms; bulimia or anorexia that is current or within the past year, or current purging at least twice a week for three months; already taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or bupropion for other indications (such as anxiety disorders)
* Primary disorder is an anxiety disorder (e.g., panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder), with secondary depression
* Drug or alcohol dependence within 6 months prior to study entry (current drug or alcohol abuse may be permitted if study officials determine that the abuse is of lesser importance than the major depressive episode)
* Systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg
* Significant active physical illness, particularly those that may affect the brain or serotonergic system (e.g., blood dyscrasias lymphomas, hypersplenism, endocrinopathies, kidney failure, severe chronic obstructive lung disease, autonomic neuropathies, active malignancy)
* Active medical problems
* Requires antipsychotic medication
* History of hypomania or mania while taking antidepressants
* Any condition that may make the use of an SSRI or bupropion medically inadvisable
* Currently using Zyban
* Failure to respond to adequate trials of three SSRIs, paroxetine, or bupropion within 2 years prior to study entry (failure to respond to therapeutic trial defined as at least 2/3 maximal daily dose \[PDR\] for at least 6 weeks)
* Pregnant, breastfeeding, or plans to become pregnant during the course of study participation
* Currently on effective treatment, requires adjunctive antipsychotic or mood stabilizing medication, or is unlikely to respond to single agent treatment for depression
* Patients with ferrous metal implants in their bodies, or a history of claustrophobia that precludes MRI, will be excluded.
* Patients assessed as being unlikely to tolerate the maximum 2-week delay to start of treatment.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Go-No go Test
timeFrame: Measured at Baseline and Week 8
measure: Scale for Suicidal Ideation
timeFrame: Baseline and Week 8
measure: Occurrence of Suicidal Ideation or Acts Necessitating a Change in Treatment
timeFrame: Measured at Month 6
measure: Brain Activity Measured by BOLD Signal With fMRI During a Reward Processing Task.
timeFrame: Baseline and Week 8.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: New York
country: United States
facility: Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute
name: Michael F. Grunebaum, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Grunebaum MF, Ellis SP, Duan N, Burke AK, Oquendo MA, John Mann J. Pilot randomized clinical trial of an SSRI vs bupropion: effects on suicidal behavior, ideation, and mood in major depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012 Feb;37(3):697-706. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.247. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
citation: Grunebaum MF, Keilp JG, Ellis SP, Sudol K, Bauer N, Burke AK, Oquendo MA, Mann JJ. SSRI versus bupropion effects on symptom clusters in suicidal depression: post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 Sep;74(9):872-9. doi: 10.4088/JCP.12m08000.