Paroxetine/Bupropion in Suicide Attempters/Ideators With Major Depression

Phase 4

Terminated

Conditions: Depression

Interventions: Drug: Paroxetine
Drug: Bupropion

Registration Number: NCT00429169

Lead Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute

Brief Summary: The primary study comparing effectiveness for suicidal ideation and/or behavior of two antidepressant medications in depressed patients who have attempted suicide or are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts has been completed.

A secondary study component using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate different medication effects on reward processing in the same sample is ongoing.

Detailed Description: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and serious psychiatric illness. It is among the leading causes of disability and is the psychiatric disorder most often associated with suicide. The treatment of MDD with antidepressant medication remains largely trial and error. Little empirical evidence exists to guide the treatment of MDD when suicide risk is a major factor. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant medication that works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance. The study compared the effectiveness of paroxetine, an SSRI, versus bupropion, a non-SSRI, on suicidal ideation and/or behavior in depressed patients with a past suicide attempt and/or current suicidal thoughts. Results of the completed primary study have been published (Grunebaum MF et al. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012 Feb;37(3):697-706).

In the ongoing secondary neuro-imaging component of the study, Participants are randomly assigned to either paroxetine or bupropion treatment for 8 weeks with fMRI scans involving a reward processing task at baseline and Week 8. Weekly study visits include interviews with a psychologist, self-report scales, and medication monitoring. All participants will then be offered 4 additional months of open clinical treatment. If original medication assignments prove to be ineffective, participants will have the option to switch to another medication. After completing the study, participants will be referred for ongoing treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 101

Inclusion Criteria

Currently suffering from a major depressive episode (unipolar only)
History of a past suicide attempt or score greater than 2 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) item #3 (suicide) at in-person screening interview. Patients with suicidal plan or intent will only be enrolled as inpatients if independent inpatient treatment team agrees.
Patients 60 years of age and older must score at least 25 on MMSE at screening.
Patients 60 years of age and older must have a normal ECG within the past year.

Exclusion Criteria

Any of the following conditions: bipolar disorder; current psychotic symptoms; bulimia or anorexia that is current or within the past year, or current purging at least twice a week for three months; already taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or bupropion for other indications (such as anxiety disorders)
Primary disorder is an anxiety disorder (e.g., panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder), with secondary depression
Drug or alcohol dependence within 6 months prior to study entry (current drug or alcohol abuse may be permitted if study officials determine that the abuse is of lesser importance than the major depressive episode)
Systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg
Significant active physical illness, particularly those that may affect the brain or serotonergic system (e.g., blood dyscrasias lymphomas, hypersplenism, endocrinopathies, kidney failure, severe chronic obstructive lung disease, autonomic neuropathies, active malignancy)
Active medical problems
Requires antipsychotic medication
History of hypomania or mania while taking antidepressants
Any condition that may make the use of an SSRI or bupropion medically inadvisable
Currently using Zyban
Failure to respond to adequate trials of three SSRIs, paroxetine, or bupropion within 2 years prior to study entry (failure to respond to therapeutic trial defined as at least 2/3 maximal daily dose [PDR] for at least 6 weeks)
Pregnant, breastfeeding, or plans to become pregnant during the course of study participation
Currently on effective treatment, requires adjunctive antipsychotic or mood stabilizing medication, or is unlikely to respond to single agent treatment for depression
Patients with ferrous metal implants in their bodies, or a history of claustrophobia that precludes MRI, will be excluded.
Patients assessed as being unlikely to tolerate the maximum 2-week delay to start of treatment.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Paroxetine	Paroxetine	Participants will receive paroxetine for 8 weeks
Bupropion	Bupropion	Participants will receive bupropion for 8 weeks

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Go-No go Test	Measured at Baseline and Week 8	Change in neuropsychological measure of impulsivity. Computer-based task involving induction of a dominant response tendency and testing of the subject's ability to withhold responding to less frequent non-target stimuli.
Scale for Suicidal Ideation	Baseline and Week 8	The clinician-rated Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI) (Beck et al 1979)was used weekly for 8 weeks. It has 19 items scaled 0 (least severe) to 2 (most severe) and total score is the sum, ranging 0 to 38 (Beck et al 1979). Items measure frequency, intensity, and attitudes toward suicidal thoughts, feelings of control over them, and suicide plans. Mean score in 90 inpatients hospitalized for suicidal ideation was 9.4±8.4, versus 4.4±5.8 in outpatients as cited in the study by Beck et al, 1979.
Occurrence of Suicidal Ideation or Acts Necessitating a Change in Treatment	Measured at Month 6	Suicide attempts, other suicidal behavior, or increase in suicidal thoughts that required a change in clinical treatment.
Brain Activity Measured by BOLD Signal With fMRI During a Reward Processing Task.	Baseline and Week 8.	Comparison of fMRI results at baseline and after 8 weeks of antidepressant pharmacotherapy with paroxetine vs. bupropion. Percent change in contrast of parameter estimates (COPE). COPE is measured during Monetary Incentive Delay Task. Task conditions are: Reward=BOLD signal when subject wins 5 cents vs. wins 0 cents Punishment=BOLD signal when subject loses 5 cents vs. loses 0 cents