NMDA Antagonists in Bipolar Depression

The purpose of this study is to test whether ketamine and D-cycloserine can be safely and effectively used for the treatment of depression. The investigators hypothesize that ketamine will serve as a rapid acting and safe antidepressant in patients with bipolar depression, and furthermore, that D-cycloserine will serve as an effective therapy following ketamine treatment.

Topic Bipolar Disorder Depression
Compound Ketamine
Country United States of America
Visit trial
Status Completed
Results Published No
Start date 03 January 2013
End date 03 January 2016
Chance of happening 100%
Phase Phase IV
Design Open
Type Interventional
Generation First
Participants 8
Sex All
Age 18- 60
Therapy No

Trial Details

Bipolar disorder affects 2% of the population in the United States and the depressive phase contributes disproportionally to morbidity and mortality. At present, few approved treatments for bipolar depression are available, and have primarily depended on manipulations of brain monoaminergic systems. In contrast, recent studies suggest that the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate-receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, ketamine, may provide near-immediate relief for treatment resistant depression. Its utility during long-term treatment, however, is limited by its psychotomimetic potency and the need for repeated IV infusions. D-cycloserine (DCS) is an approved oral antibiotic for tuberculosis drug and a well-studied mixed agonist/antagonist at the NMDAR/glycine binding site. DCS showed preliminary evidence of efficacy in a pilot study. DCS would thus be practical from both a safety and route of administration perspective. The present study will explore the feasibility and safety of DCS for maintenance treatments, as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

NCT Number NCT01833897

Sponsors & Collaborators

New York State Psychiatric Institute
The New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), established in 1895, was one of the first institutions in the United States to integrate teaching, research and therapeutic approaches to the care of patients with mental illnesses.

Measures Used

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluating recovery. The scale consists of 17 items which each item being scoring on a 3 or 5 point scale. The higher the score, the more likely a person is depressed.

Hamilton Anxiety Scale
The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) was one of the first rating scales developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms and is still widely used today in both clinical and research settings.

Beck Depression Inventory
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) contains 21 self-report items, completed using a multiple-choice format. Scores range from 0-63 with higher scores associated with more severe depression.

Data attribution

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