Active clinical trials for "Depressive Disorder"

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of the drug memantine for treating major depression. Major depression is a serious public health concern that contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of a wide range of antidepressant drugs, a proportion of patients with major depression fail to respond to first-line antidepressant treatment, despite adequate dosage, duration, and compliance. Recent studies suggest that the glutamatergic system may play a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Memantine and other agents which reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission may represent a novel class of antidepressants. The study consists of three phases. In Phase 1, participants will be tapered off all psychiatric medications over a 2-week washout period. In Phase 2, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either memantine or placebo (an inactive pill) three times a day for 8 weeks. Participants who do not respond to the treatment after 8 weeks will be taken off the study and offered standard treatment. Weekly psychiatric evaluations will evaluate treatment response. During Phase 2, participants who respond well to treatment will enter Phase 3, a 16-week continuation phase of either memantine or placebo. Interviews will be conducted every other week in the first month , then monthly thereafter. Participants will have a physical examination, neuropsychological tests, and eye blink tests at baseline and at the end of the study. Pulse, blood pressure, and blood samples will be taken throughout the study. Participants will undergo an electrocardiogram as well as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the drug felbamate for treating depression in patients with bipolar disorder that has not responded to standard treatments. Bipolar disorder is a severe, chronic, and often life-threatening illness. Despite the availability of a wide range of antidepressant drugs, a proportion of patients fail to respond to first-line antidepressant treatment despite adequate dosage, duration, and compliance. Studies suggest that the glutamatergic system may play a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Felbamate and other agents which reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission may represent a novel class of antidepressants. Participants in this study will be admitted to the Clinical Center for up to 10 weeks. At study entry, participants will have a 7-day washout period in which they will be tapered off all psychiatric medications, with the possible exception of lithium, and will be given a placebo (an inactive pill). After the washout period, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either felbamate or placebo for 8 weeks. Participants whose depression symptoms worsen by more than 30% or those for whom study continuation is considered potentially harmful will be taken off the study and offered open-label treatment. Participants who received felbamate and responded well to treatment will have the option of continuing treatment.

A clinical study to determine the efficacy and safety of MK0869 in the treatment of depression

The purposes of this study are to determine: Whether olanzapine plus fluoxetine in combination will help patients with treatment-resistant major depression. The safety of olanzapine plus fluoxetine in combination, plus and any side effects that might be associated with the combination. The effectiveness of olanzapine plus fluoxetine compared to olanzapine and fluoxetine alone.

This study will compare two different antidepressant treatment regimens to determine which is more effective in reducing symptoms of bipolar depression.

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that duloxetine (Cymbalta), in doses of 60 or 120 mg/day, is an effective and tolerable treatment for adult outpatients suffering from dysthymia. Dysthymia is chronic, mild depression characterized by feeling sad or low more days than not for more than 2 years.

The purpose of this study is to test whether metyrapone is an effective and safe augmenting agent in the treatment of major depression.

The specific aim of the "Coronary Patients Evaluation Study" (COPES) Project 2 is, within a Phase-I RCT, to examine patient satisfaction, treatment safety, and symptom reduction associated with treatment for symptoms of distress and/or depressed mood among post acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, as compared to usual cardiology care. For the purposes of this study, "symptoms of distress and/or depressed mood" is defined by a score on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) >10. The specific treatment approach utilized follows the, "Improving Mood-Promoting Access to Collaborative Treatment" (IMPACT) Clinical Trial, and involves up to 6-months of a patient preference, stepped-care protocol. Within this protocol, patients choose between brief, problem focused psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication. Treatment progress is reviewed at 2-month intervals, providing opportunities to 'step-up' treatment if patients are not demonstrating sufficient symptom reduction.

This twelve month, open-label study considers the effect of Risperdal (risperidone) versus Zyprexa (olanzapine) on weight gain, physical health, and outcome in a population of those diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depression or bipolar disorder with psychotic features. This study evaluates symptom response as well as general health indicators such as body mass index, glucose, prolactin, and cholesterol levels at baseline, month (M)1, M3, M6 and M12.

The purpose of this trial is to investigate the efficacy of risperidone as an adjunct to an antidepressant treatment in the acute management of suicidality during an episode of major depressive disorder.