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Determining Optimal Treatment Sequences in Anxious Depression (DOTS-AD)

Phase 4
Recruiting
Conditions
Anxious Depression
Depression
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04245748
Lead Sponsor
University of Cincinnati
Brief Summary

Acute, double-blind, adaptively randomized treatment with duloxetine or escitalopram, followed by double-blind, randomized adjunctive treatment with clonazepam or pregabalin for persistent symptoms.

Detailed Description

The study will consist of 2 phases (Figure 1). Eighty-four adults will be enrolled in Phase 1 and will be adaptively randomized (initially 1:1) to acute, double-blind treatment with escitalopram or duloxetine for 11 weeks. Remission status will be determined at week 10. Remitting patients (CGI-S ≤2) will resume treatment as usual, which may consist of outpatient referral. Non-remitting patients (CGI-S ≥3), will continue into Phase 2 and will be randomized to adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks. Twenty adults treated with escitalopram (or its racemic equivalent, citalopram) or duloxetine for ≥6 weeks (at screening) will be enrolled into Phase 2 and will be randomized to receive adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
84
Inclusion Criteria
  • Written, informed consent.

  • Patients must be fluent in the English.

  • 18 to 50 years of age, inclusive, at Visit 1.

  • Patients must meet DSM-5 criteria for generalized, social and/or separation anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder, confirmed by the MINI.99 Patients may also meet criteria for persistent depressive disorder or major depressive disorder however, these may not be the primary focus of treatment.

  • HAM-A score ≥20 at Visits 1 and 2.

  • Clinical Global Impressions- Severity (CGI-S) score ≥4 at Visits 1 and 2.

  • No clinically significant abnormalities on physical examination and EKG.

  • Negative pregnancy test at Visit 1 in females.

  • Negative urine drug screen at Visit 1.

  • Sexually active patients must practice a reliable method of contraception (Section 15.0) that will continue for the duration of the study and for a minimum of 30 days following the end of study participation. Reliable methods of contraception are defined below; other forms of contraceptives (pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological) are not accepted:

    1. Surgical sterilization
    2. Oral contraceptives (e.g. estrogren-progestin combination or progestin)
    3. Transdermally-delivered contraceptives (e.g., Ortho-Evra), depot injections (e.g., Depo-Provera)
    4. Vaginal contraceptive ring (e.g., NuvaRing), contraceptive implants (e.g., Implanon, Norplant II/Jadelle)
    5. An intrauterine device
    6. Diaphragm plus condom.
  • For patients directly enrolling into Phase 2: treatment with escitalopram (or its racemic equivalent citalopram) or duloxetine for ≥6 weeks, at time of screening.

Exclusion Criteria
  • DSM-5 diagnosis other than generalized anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety or panic disorder(s) that is the primary focus of treatment.
  • A history of intellectual disability.
  • Suicide risk as determined by either: (1) any suicide attempt within the past 6 months and/or (2) significant risk at Visit 1 (Screening) or Visit 2 (Baseline), as judged by the Investigator.
  • Allergy, intolerance, non-response or hypersensitivity to escitalopram, duloxetine, pregabalin or clonazepam.
  • Subjects taking other medications that require a taper or washout of more than 5 days.
  • Patients who have initiated/terminated psychotherapy/behavior therapy within 1 month before Visit 2 (Baseline) will be excluded; if the patient is engaged in psychotherapy, it must have been stable for 1 month prior to baseline.
  • A clinically-significant medical illness.
  • QTc >450 in males or >460 in females (prolonged QTc based on American Heart Association recommendations for Standardization and Interpretation of the EKG100
  • Alcohol or substance use disorder within 6 months of baseline (nicotine use is permitted).
  • Positive urine pregnancy test/pregnancy or breast feeding.
  • A positive urine drug screen.
  • Patients who are unable to swallow capsules.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
DuloxetineDuloxetineAdaptively randomized, double-blind treatment with duloxetine for 11 weeks in Phase 1. Non-remitting patients will be randomized in Phase 2 to adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks. Additionally, adults who are already treated with duloxetine for at least 6 weeks prior to screening, may enter Phase 2 and be randomized to adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks.
EscitalopramEscitalopramAdaptively randomized, double-blind treatment with escitalopram for 11 weeks in Phase 1. Non-remitting patients will be randomized in Phase 2 to adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks. Additionally, adults who are already treated with escitalopram or citalopram for at least 6 weeks prior to screening, may enter Phase 2 and be randomized to adjunctive clonazepam or pregabalin for 8 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total scoreWeek 2 to 20

The HAM-A rating scale is a test of 14 items measuring the severity of anxiety symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe). Total scores range from 0 to 56. A lower score is favorable.

Change from Baseline in the Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S)Week 2 to 20

CGI-S is a seven point scale where 1=Normal and 7=Among the most extremely ill patients.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience

🇺🇸

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

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