RCT Study on the Therapeutic Effect of Escitalopram Loaded With XingpiJieyu Formula on Resting State EEG Energy Abnormalities in Severe Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Type MDD

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Major Depression
• Interventions: Drug: XingpiJieyu formula; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Escitalopram

• Registration Number: NCT06758167
• Lead Sponsor: Peking University Sixth Hospital

Brief Summary

To compare the clinical efficacy of XingpiJieyu formula or its placebo combined with Escitalopram (ESC) in the treatment of moderate and severe MDD, and to explore a new method of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine for the treatment of moderate and severe MDD with severe liver depression and spleen deficiency, as well as its neurological mechanism for regulating the relative power (RP) of resting-state EEG spectra.

Detailed Description

MDD patients, especially severe MDD patients have heavy burden of disease, high risk of suicide, difficulty in single drug treatment, and poor compliance with combined western medicine treatment. It is urgent to explore new methods of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of moderate and severe MDD to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity. A double-blind, randomized, controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted to compare the efficacy of XingpiJieyu formula or its placebo combined with escitalopram in the treatment of MDD with severe liver depression and spleen deficiency. We aim to explore the clinical efficacy of XingpiJieyu formula combined with escitalopram and its possible multi-target neural mechanism.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-11-14
• Primary Completion: 2024-04-02
• Study Completion: 2024-04-02
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study First Submitted: 2024-12-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-12-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-25
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-03
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 150

Inclusion Criteria

1. outpatient/inpatient, age 18-45 years old, right-handed;
2. western medical diagnosis meets the diagnostic criteria of MDD in DSM-5, without psychiatric features;
3. In accordance with the diagnostic criteria of depression and liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in the "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Internal Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine" issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine in 2008;
4. 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale score ≥18;
5. educational experience ≥5 years;
6. The current episode has not used antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or other medications that can act on the central nervous system for at least 4 weeks;
7. Have not received physical therapy, such as MECT, rTMS, etc., in the past 6 months;
8. The total duration of the disease ≤10 years.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Any current or previous mental disorder other than MDD according to DSM-5;
2. Diagnosis of syndromes other than depression and liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in the "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Internal Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine" issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine in 2008;
3. Suicidal ideation or suicidal behaviour (HAMD-17 item 3 > 2);
4. Drinking alcohol in the week prior to the enrollment;
5. Patients with neurological disorders, somatic disorders, organic brain diseases, and tumour;
6. Sleep disorders other than insomnia disorders currently diagnosed according to DSM-5, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome, etc.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
XingpiJieyu formula	XingpiJieyu formula	Experimental group, treated with XingpiJieyu formula and escitalopram.
XingpiJieyu formula	Escitalopram	Experimental group, treated with XingpiJieyu formula and escitalopram.
Placebo and escitalopram	Placebo	Control group, treated with placebo and escitalopram.
Placebo and escitalopram	Escitalopram	Control group, treated with placebo and escitalopram.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17)	8 weeks	The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was developed by Hamilton in 1960 and is the most commonly used scale for clinical assessment of depressive states. This scale is used by two trained raters to conduct a combined HAMD examination of the patient, usually in the form of conversation and observation, and at the end of the examination, the two raters rate independently; by using this scale, the severity of the condition and the effectiveness of the treatment can be evaluated.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA)	8 weeks	Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), compiled by Hamilton in 1959, is one of the commonly used scales in psychiatric clinics, and the total score of HAMA can better reflect the severity of anxiety symptoms, which can be used to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety and depression disorders and to assess the effects of various medications and psychological interventions.
Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)	8 weeks	The Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) is a scale used to assess an individual's somatic symptoms and dysfunction. It consists of 15 common somatic symptom items, and assesses a person's somatic health status by asking the participant to select the symptoms that correspond to his or her condition. The scale can be used to screen and assess the presence and severity of clusters of somatic symptoms, helping healthcare professionals to quickly understand a patient's somatic health problems.
Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)	8 weeks	The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was compiled in 1989 by Dr Buysse, a psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and others. The scale is suitable for patients with sleep disorders and patients with psychiatric disorders to evaluate the quality of sleep, but also for the general population to assess the quality of sleep.
Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS)	8 weeks	The Side Effects Scale (TESS) is a tool used to assess side effects of medications. It rates side effects in different categories to determine the extent to which a drug is causing side effects in a patient and whether adjustments to the treatment regimen are needed. It can help physicians better understand the side effects of medications and make timely adjustments to treatment regimens to improve outcomes and reduce adverse reactions in patients.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Peking University Sixth Hospital; 🇨🇳 Beijing, Beijing, China