A Study of Chinese Medicine Treating Depression
- Conditions
- Depression
- Interventions
- Drug: Traditional Chinese MedicineDrug: Antidepressants
- Registration Number
- NCT02873234
- Lead Sponsor
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
- Brief Summary
Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation has been a prevalent therapy in China for thousands of years. It is based on patients' symptoms, pulse, tongue and coating on the tongue. Therefore, the syndrome of patients and corresponding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may vary.
This multicenter prospective cohort studies the efficiency and safety of TCM compared with antidepressants. A total number of 4600 cases with primary depression are expected to be collected and divided into 3 cohorts based on the patients' requirement and choices. Patients in one group will receive TCM, and patients in the other two groups will respectively receive antidepressants only and integrated treatment of TCM and antidepressants. This study has 2 phases: treating period and the follow-up.
The main purpose of this long-term study is to evaluate the efficiency of TCM compared with antidepressants in reducing relapse and suicide rate, changing lifestyle, improving patient compliance as well as the safety.
- Detailed Description
This multicenter prospective cohort uses a modern technique. With its help participants can assess themselves at any time and doctors can supervise patients in case of some adverse events or intervene when patients commit suicide.
The main purpose of this study is to observe the differences between cohorts. However, the intra-group differences are also needed to be evaluated, as the therapies of different participants are various. Therefore, the number of participants treated with each therapy and the time of recovery need to be counted and analyzed. This is a long-term and natural study that participants lost, drug withdrawal and changes in participants'choices of the therapy cannot be avoided. So the reason and number of the previous conditions need to be observed. The safety of TCM and antidepressants is also a considerable outcome which will be evaluated by laboratory examination, Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) and the number of participants with adverse events.
Some of the outcomes are measured by questionnaires which can be divided into two parts. One is self-rated assessments including Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-reporting Inventory (SCL-90). The other one is evaluated by doctors, such as Hamilton Depression Rating Scale of 24 items (HAMD), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS), Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 4600
Subjects meeting all of the following criteria can be included in this study:
- Clinical diagnosis of depression
- The scores of Hamilton Depression scale ( HAMD )≥18
- With stable vital signs, conscious mind and acceptable communication ability
- Can use the mobile phone to do self-evaluation
- Male or female patients between 18 and 65 years old
- Signing the informed consent and agreeing to participate in this study
Subjects meeting anyone of the following criteria will be excluded from this study:
- Depression caused by other diseases
- Unstable vital signs
- Severe aphasia and agnosia causing disability to communicate
- Alcoholism and other substance dependence
- Diagnosis of other mental disorders except depression
- Serious hepatic or renal insufficiency
- Pregnancy or lactation
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine Including Zishui Qinggan Yin,Xiaoyao San, Longdan Xiegan Tang, Guipi Decoction, Ningshen Dingzhi Wan, HuangLian-EJiao decoction and Jiaotai Wan. TCM plus antidepressants Traditional Chinese Medicine This is a integrative therapy that refers to a new treating system including TCM and antidepressants. Antidepressants Antidepressants Antidepressants include Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants, such as Paroxetine, Citalopram, Venlafaxine, Sertraline, Trazodone, Maprotiline and so on. TCM plus antidepressants Antidepressants This is a integrative therapy that refers to a new treating system including TCM and antidepressants.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Suicide rate 2 years The suicide rate includes the percentage of the cases committing suicide and the successful cases.
Relapse rate 2 years It is the percentage of the relapse of depression including the total number of relapse cases.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method The time of relapse 2 years Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by the change of total scores from the study starting to every 2 weeks at least during 2 years. It is assessed by patients using a mobile phone APP.
Self-reporting Inventory (SCL-90) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by the change of total scores from the study starting to every 2 weeks at least during 2 years. It is assessed by patients using a mobile phone APP.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by change of total scores from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
Recovery Rate 2 years The differences between groups are evaluated by the number and rate of recovery cases from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by change of total scores from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
The time of committing suicide 2 years It refers to the time of committing suicide and the time of success.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale of 24 items (HAMD) before recruiting Differences between groups are evaluated by change of total scores from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by change of total scores from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score 2 years Before the study, all investigators took standardized training and conformance testing. Syndrome differentiation and syndrome scores were took by 2 investigators together, and the results needed to obtain their consent.
Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) 2 years Differences between groups are evaluated by change of total scores from the study intake to every 3 months in 2 years.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
🇨🇳Beijing, Beijing, China