Neural Correlates of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Depression
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00812227 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : December 22, 2008
Last Update Posted : May 13, 2013
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Major Depressive Disorder | Behavioral: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 35 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Neural Correlates of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Depression |
Study Start Date : | August 2008 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | February 2013 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Psychodynamic psychotherapy |
Behavioral: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Screened and eligible patients will receive 16 individual sessions of psychodynamic psychotherapy, each lasting 45-50 minutes. |
- Correlation between changes in HAMD-17 and changes in QEEG measurements (theta cordance) from treatment initiation to two weeks after starting treatment [ Time Frame: Weeks 0 through 16 ]
- PET: Treatment-related change in FDG metabolism within regions-of-interest identified at baseline as related to depression severity. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Week 16 ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 60 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects will be adults, ages 18 to 60 years;
- Able to provide written informed consent;
- MDD, current according to the fourth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV);
- QIDS-SR score of >= 12 at screen;
- Current major depressive episode (MDE) length of < 5 year;
- Treated with an SSRI, SNRI, or bupropion at adequate doses (defined as 20 mg/day or more of fluoxetine, citalopram, or paroxetine; 10 mg/day or more of escitalopram; 50 mg/day or more of sertraline; 75 mg/day or more of venlafaxine; 15 mg/day of mirtazapine; or 40 mg/day of duloxetine; or 100mg/day of bupropion(wellbutrin)) during the current episode for at least 8 weeks; and,
- At the time of screen visit, patients must be on a stable dose of SSRI, SNRI, or bupropion for the past 4 weeks.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant women or women of child bearing potential who are not using a medically accepted means of contraception (to include oral contraceptive or implant, condom, diaphragm, spermicide, intrauterine device, tubal ligation, or a partner with vasectomy). Women of childbearing age who wish to enter the study will be required to undergo a pregnancy test (beta-HCG) prior to initiating treatment; an additional blood pregnancy test (beta HCG) will be completed if subject wants to do PET scan
- Patients who, in the investigator's judgment, pose a current, serious suicidal or homicidal risk. These patients will be immediately referred to appropriate clinical treatment;
- Patients who, in the opinion of the therapist, are not depressed at the time of their first psychotherapy visit;
- Patients who are currently being treated by a psychotherapist individually or who have received individual psychotherapy during the past 6 months. Couples therapy and family therapy will not be considered exclusionary criteria;
- Patients with neurological illnesses, including a history of seizure or head trauma with loss of consciousness;
- Patients with unstable diabetes, kidney disease, or significant medical illness;
- Patients with history of allergy to FDG
- The following DSM-IV diagnoses: substance use disorders active within the last six months, any bipolar disorder (current or past), any psychotic disorder (current or past), any post-traumatic stress disorder (current or past), any obsessive compulsive disorder (current or past), or any panic disorder (current, past allowed). Generalized anxiety disorder or adjustment disorder are not exclusionary;
- Patients currently requiring other psychotropic medications, including anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, stimulants, or sedative hypnotics (other than diphenhydramine);however, patients will be permitted to take trazodone in addition to their primary antidepressant if it is taken as a sleep aid, rather than a primary antidepressant;
- Psychotic features in the current episode, or a history of psychotic features, as assessed by SCID;
- Patients who have undergone > 3 previous adequate attempts at psychodynamic psychotherapy (deemed "adequate" by the screening physician), which were considered unhelpful or unsuccessful by patient report (according to patient report);
- Patients with a history of antidepressant-induced hypomania; and
- Patients with a history of medication non-compliance.
- Patients with Axis II pathology (personality disorder) that, in the opinion of the screening physician, would interfere with subjects' ability to participate in the treatment and/or comply with the protocol, such as severe borderline or narcissistic personality disorder.
- Patients who have had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the 12 months preceding baseline

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00812227
United States, Massachusetts | |
Depression Clinical and Research Program | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 |
Principal Investigator: | Joshua Roffman, MD | Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry | |
Principal Investigator: | Janet Witte, MD, MPH | Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry |
Responsible Party: | Joshua L. Roffman MD, MMSc, Staff psychiatrist, Massachusetts General Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00812227 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2008-P-001181 |
First Posted: | December 22, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 13, 2013 |
Last Verified: | May 2013 |
Depression Psychotherapy Neuroimaging Subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) |
Depression Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major |
Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders |