Conditions: Bipolar Disorder
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 50
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to examine whether the medication pramipexole (Mirapex) may be able to improve cognitive problems (i.e. difficulties with thinking, memory, and concentration) that may be associated with bipolar disorder.

Detailed description:
To address the primary aim, the study is an eight-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment trial of pramipexole in 50 euthymic bipolar I and II disorder (BPD) patients, who demonstrate cognitive impairment.

Arms:
arm 1: Day 1: Random assignment to drug or placebo and dosage starting at 0.125 mg BID, which will be increased every week to a target dose of 1.5 mg/day. Targeted maximum dose of 1.5 mg/day is expected to be reached by week 4, however, dosing will be flexible based upon side effects reported. The maximum dose will be 1.5 mg/day. arm 2: Day 1: Random assignment to drug or placebo and dosage starting at 0.125 mg BID, which will be increased every week to a target dose of 1.5 mg/day. Targeted maximum dose of 1.5 mg/day is expected to be reached by week 4, however, dosing will be flexible based upon side effects reported. The maximum dose will be 1.5 mg/day.

Interventions: intervention 1: pramipexole
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: po pramipexole versus matching placebo minimum 0.125 mg bid and maximum 0.75 mg bid

Protocol document: