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Algorithm Guided Treatment Strategies for Major Depressive Disorder

Phase 4
Conditions
Major Depressive Disorder
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01764867
Lead Sponsor
Shanghai Mental Health Center
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare treatment outcomes between measurement based Algorithm Guided Treatment and Treatment As Usual strategies in a Chinese population with major depressive disorder.

Detailed Description

The AGT arm includes a 2-step medication monotherapy and a combination treatment algorithm. The first step (level 1) includes two medication monotherapy options: escitalopram and mirtazapine. For those participants who don't remit with the initial intervention after up to 6 to 12-week treatment, the second step (level 2) with a variety of treatment options will be provided. In level 2 intervention, a switch strategy for those who don't remit with escitalopram will be switched to mirtazapine, or for those who don't remit with mirtazapine will be switched to escitalopram, combination strategy (i.e. escitalopram plus mirtazapine) and augmentation strategy (i.e. escitalopram or mirtazapine plus either rTMS or mECT). Participants who don't get remission in level 1 intervention will be encouraged to enter level 2 interventions based on intend-to-treatment principle. The TAU arm as control intervention is performed using the psychiatrist's individual discretion based on his/her expertise and knowledge.

Participants will be recruited consecutively in 8 psychiatric settings across China and randomized into any of the two initial interventions of AGT or TAU arm. Follow-up interviews will be performed monthly for all participants who finish any acute treatment of AGT or TAU. The follow-up period will last up to 6 months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1080
Inclusion Criteria
  • Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for single or recurrent nonpsychotic major depressive disorder
  • Age 18-75
  • Written informed consent completed
  • Scores 14 or higher on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
  • Initial treatment with escitalopram or mirtazapine or other antidepressants is clinically appropriate
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of bipolar disorder
  • Concurring psychotic disorders
  • Scores 3 or higher on item 3 (suicidal) of HRSD-17
  • History of nonresponse to an adequate trial of escitalopram and/or mirtazapine
  • Has general medical condition, which contraindicates any leve 1 or 2 treatment option
  • Is on concomitant medication, which contraindicates any leve 1 or 2 treatment option
  • Any contraindication for mECT or rTMS
  • Is pregnant or breast feeding or is planning to get pregnant

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Algorithm Guided Treatment (AGT)EscitalopramAlgorithm Guided Treatment (AGT) strategies include two steps. In the first step, participants will be randomly assigned to escitalopram (10-20mg/d) or mirtazapine (30-45mg/d) group. In the second step those non-remitted will be allocated into a set of different intervention groups including mirtazapine monotherapy (only for those taken escitalopram in the first step), escitalopram monotherapy (only for those taken mirtazapine in the first step), or combination therapies (i.e. escitalopram plus mirtazapine, escitalopram or mirtazapine plus either modified electroconvulsive therapy with 6-10 sessions or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with 20 sessions respectively) according to intent-to-treat principle. Medication dosage in combination therapy has the same range as the first.
Algorithm Guided Treatment (AGT)modified electroconvulsive therapyAlgorithm Guided Treatment (AGT) strategies include two steps. In the first step, participants will be randomly assigned to escitalopram (10-20mg/d) or mirtazapine (30-45mg/d) group. In the second step those non-remitted will be allocated into a set of different intervention groups including mirtazapine monotherapy (only for those taken escitalopram in the first step), escitalopram monotherapy (only for those taken mirtazapine in the first step), or combination therapies (i.e. escitalopram plus mirtazapine, escitalopram or mirtazapine plus either modified electroconvulsive therapy with 6-10 sessions or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with 20 sessions respectively) according to intent-to-treat principle. Medication dosage in combination therapy has the same range as the first.
Algorithm Guided Treatment (AGT)repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationAlgorithm Guided Treatment (AGT) strategies include two steps. In the first step, participants will be randomly assigned to escitalopram (10-20mg/d) or mirtazapine (30-45mg/d) group. In the second step those non-remitted will be allocated into a set of different intervention groups including mirtazapine monotherapy (only for those taken escitalopram in the first step), escitalopram monotherapy (only for those taken mirtazapine in the first step), or combination therapies (i.e. escitalopram plus mirtazapine, escitalopram or mirtazapine plus either modified electroconvulsive therapy with 6-10 sessions or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with 20 sessions respectively) according to intent-to-treat principle. Medication dosage in combination therapy has the same range as the first.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)FluvoxamineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Algorithm Guided Treatment (AGT)MirtazapineAlgorithm Guided Treatment (AGT) strategies include two steps. In the first step, participants will be randomly assigned to escitalopram (10-20mg/d) or mirtazapine (30-45mg/d) group. In the second step those non-remitted will be allocated into a set of different intervention groups including mirtazapine monotherapy (only for those taken escitalopram in the first step), escitalopram monotherapy (only for those taken mirtazapine in the first step), or combination therapies (i.e. escitalopram plus mirtazapine, escitalopram or mirtazapine plus either modified electroconvulsive therapy with 6-10 sessions or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with 20 sessions respectively) according to intent-to-treat principle. Medication dosage in combination therapy has the same range as the first.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)FluoxetineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)CitalopramThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)ParoxetineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)EscitalopramThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)SertralineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)VenlafaxineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)DuloxetineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)BupropionThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)MirtazapineThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Treatment As Usual (TAU)TrazodoneThis control arm refers to routine antidepressant treatment strategies for participants. Any of the new-generation antidepressants including fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, or trazodone, which are all available in Chinese psychiatric clinics, may be used for participants who are randomly assigned to this treatment arm based on clinician's expertise and clinical judgement. The dosage range of any of the above antidepressants depends on clinician's judgement. The follow-up period will last up to 6-12 weeks. During follow-ups, clinician can decide to continue current treatment or start a switch or combination strategy based on his/her own clinical judgement.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Remission defined as endpoint 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) total score ≤ 712 weeks

Acute treatment will last at least 6 weeks if remission occurs, or up to 12 weeks. Endpoint total score in HRSD-17 at up to 12 weeks will be measured to determine wether remission occurs.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Remission defined as endpoint the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (16-item) (QIDS-SR16) total score ≤ 512 weeks
Frequency and intensity of adverse events12 weeks

Self-report and clinician rating frequency and intensity of adverse events will be measured at up to 12 weeks.

Quality of life12 weeks

Change from baseline in 6-item Quality of life Inventory will be measured at up to 12 weeks.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shanghai Mental Health Center

🇨🇳

Shanghai, China

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