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This study is being done to look at how well people respond to two different drug treatments for depression. Clinically, people can respond differently to different treatments for reasons which are not always clear. Some research shows that people with a family history of bipolar disorder or completed suicide may react differently to standard medications used to treat depression than those without a family history. The investigators need to know if these drugs are effective to use in patients with depression who have a family history of bipolar disorder or completed suicide.
Lithium is a mood stabilizing drug that has been used to treat people with both bipolar disorder and depression for the last 50 years. It is available to the public by prescription in Canada and has been used by millions of people world wide. Paroxetine is an antidepressant drug that has been used to treat people with depression for the past 10 years. It is also available to the public by prescription in Canada and has been used by millions world wide.
Subjects who join the study, will be given one of the study drugs, either lithium or paroxetine.
Subjects will be randomized "like the flip of a coin" to receive either lithium or paroxetine.
The study drug will be taken once a day by mouth and the daily dose adjusted to find the right dose for the subject. The study drug will be taken for a 6-week period and subjects will be assessed by the research team on a weekly basis.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium | Experimental | Following the enrollment period, subjects will enter a six-week randomized treatment period with either lithium or paroxetine. Lithium carbonate will be commenced at 600mgs hs, with increase to 900mgs at day 7. Dose will be flexibly titrated to give a serum level between 0.5 and 1.1mmol/l. At visit 4, the dose of lithium may be adjusted (within the range of 0.6 and 1.1 mmol/l). |
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| Paroxetine | Active Comparator | Following the enrollment period, subjects will enter a six-week randomized treatment period with either lithium or Paroxetine.Paroxetine will be commenced at 10mgs and increased to 20mgs on day 7.At visit 4, the dose of paroxetine may be increased to 40mgs, if there is no response (less than 20% reduction in MADRS score) as per current Canadian guidelines. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium | Drug | Study drug will be packaged and supplied in an open-label fashion. There will be a washout period of all active psychotropic medication. Psychotropics will be withdrawn over 5 half-lives with the exception of drugs known to cause withdrawal symptoms (primarily antidepressants), which will be tapered over 10 days. Following the enrollment period, subjects will enter a six-week randomized treatment period with either lithium or paroxetine. Lithium carbonate will be commenced at 600mgs hs, with increase to 900mgs at day 7. Dose will be flexibly titrated to give a serum level between 0.5 and 1.1mmol/l. At visit 4, the dose of lithium may be adjusted (within the range of 0.6 and 1.1 mmol/l. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) | The primary outcome measure will be reduction in the score on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), which has become the standard outcome tool in clinical trials for assessing symptoms of depression. Response will be defined as 50% reduction in MADRS Remission will be defined as MADRS ≤ 12. | Assessed after 6 weeks of treatment |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) | This is a standard outcome tool used to assess mania. | Assessed after 6 weeks of treatment |
| The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) | The Clinical Global Impression (CGI)is a scale used to measure overall symptom severity, treatment response, and treatment efficacy in patients with mood disorders. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Claire O'Donovan, MD, FRCPC | Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, CDHA | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre | Halifax | Nova Scotia | B3H 2E2 | Canada |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003865 | Depressive Disorder, Major |
| D003863 | Depression |
| D001714 | Bipolar Disorder |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003866 | Depressive Disorder |
| D019964 | Mood Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D001526 | Behavioral Symptoms |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D008094 | Lithium |
| D016651 | Lithium Carbonate |
| D017374 | Paroxetine |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D008672 | Metals, Alkali |
| D004602 | Elements |
| D007287 | Inorganic Chemicals |
| D019565 | Metals, Light |
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| Paroxetine | Drug | Study drug will be packaged and supplied in an open-label fashion. There will be a washout period of all active psychotropic medication. Psychotropics will be withdrawn over 5 half-lives with the exception of drugs known to cause withdrawal symptoms (primarily antidepressants), which will be tapered over 10 days. Following the enrollment period, subjects will enter a six-week randomized treatment period with either lithium or paroxetine. Paroxetine will be commenced at 10mgs and increased to 20mgs on day 7. At visit 4, the dose of paroxetine may be increased to 40mgs, if there is no response (less than 20% reduction in MADRS score) as per current Canadian guidelines. |
|
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| Assessed after 6 weeks of treatment |
| The Columbia Suicide Classification Scale | The Columbia Suicide Classification Scale, used in the FDA analysis of pediatric antidepressants, has become a standard tool used in clinical depression trials and will be used to monitor changes in suicide risk or self-harm weekly. | Assessed over 6 weeks of treatment. |
| Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) | Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS): The BARS is a very brief clinical assessment for the presences of akathisia. Akathisia secondary to antidepressants has been associated with increased suicidality. The inclusion of the BARS will serve to delineate akathisia from psychomotor agitation as part of treatment -emergent mixed symptoms. | Assessed over 6 weeks of treatment |
| Treatment -emergent symptom checklist and questionnaire | This checklist and questionnaire will be used to capture a potential range of treatment emergent mixed symptoms. | Assessed over 6 weeks of treatment |
| D001519 |
| Behavior |
| D000068105 | Bipolar and Related Disorders |
| D008670 |
| Metals |
| D002254 | Carbonates |
| D000468 | Alkalies |
| D002255 | Carbonic Acid |
| D017554 | Carbon Compounds, Inorganic |
| D018020 | Lithium Compounds |
| D010880 | Piperidines |
| D006573 | Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring |
| D006571 | Heterocyclic Compounds |