The Effects of Sertraline on Depression in Parkinson's Disease (PD; PDD)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01437189 |
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified August 2011 by Wei Luo, Zhejiang University.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
First Posted : September 20, 2011
Last Update Posted : September 20, 2011
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Depression Parkinson's Disease | Drug: Sertraline | Not Applicable |
Depression in PD is associated with more severe cognitive and functional impairments, a faster progression of illness, worse quality of life, increase mortality and higher burden for caregivers, when compare PD patients without depression. Depression accounts for approximately 40-50% in PD patients, which is also well known as a main factor impacting on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in negative way in the context of PD and even their caregivers. In our previous cross-sectional study, the investigators have already studied the prevalence of depressive symptoms in PD patients and also have proved how depressive symptoms severely worsen HRQoL in PD patients in the area of the mainland China. In order to improve HRQoL of PD, some interventions, for example, taking some antidepressants to improve depression are urgently required. In addition, the investigators had already tested the validity and reliability of Chinese version of the 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) in mainland China, the paper about which already have been published in journal of Zhejiang university science B (biomedicine and biotechnology) already, therefore, the investigators can use the questionnaire of Chinese version of PDQ-39 to assess PD patients' quality of life.
Treatment of depression with antidepressant drugs is well established. In the last 20 years, the application of antidepressant has risen mainly due to the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs are now the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in patients with depression in general. Regarding depression in the context of PD, a recent survey in the U.S. showed that 63% of the prescriptions for depression in PD were for SSRIs and only 7.5% for tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The preference of SSRIs over the older TCAs is supposedly based on their similar efficacy but better tolerability, especially when compared with tertiary amines, such as amitriptyline or imipramine. Sertraline is characterized by a low selectivity for serotonin relative to dopamine reuptake, suggesting a favorable efficacy profile. There was a randomized study pointing out that both sertraline and low-dose amitriptyline improved depressive symptoms in PD, and a significant benefit on quality of life was observed only with sertraline. Still, more studies are needed to demonstrate whether sertraline is effective to depression in PD patients. Further more, there is no trial about the efficacy and safety of sertraline on depression in PD in mainland China. It's necessary for us to initiate and conduct this trial in mainland China.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 35 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Clinical Protocol of Self-Controlled Study on the Effects of Sertraline on Depression in Parkinson's Disease |
Study Start Date : | August 2011 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | November 2012 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 2013 |

- Drug: Sertraline
Starting dose 25mg/day for 1 week, then increasing to 50mg/day, add on 50mg each time when the depressive symptoms are not improved, at 2-week intervals. Maximum: 200mg/day. Maintenance: lowest effective dose.Other Name: Zoloft
- change from baseline in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
- change from baseline in questionnaire of PDQ-39 [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 35 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients between 35 and 75 years of age from the outpatients clinic in Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University.
- All patients should have a confirmed diagnosis of PD according to Brain Bank Criteria.
- Diagnosed to be major depression episode according to DSM-IV,
- Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) exclude dementia.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) demonstrate dementia
- Any current DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis other than a depressive or anxiety disorder.
- History of psychosis or hallucinations or under treatment with atypical neuroleptics.
- Treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when a patient with unipolar depression fails to respond to adequate antidepressant therapy.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- Concomitant use in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
- Concomitant use in patients taking pimozide.

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): NCT01437189
Contact: Wei Luo, PH.D&M.D | 13757120109 | luoweirock@yahoo.com.cn |
China, Zhejiang | |
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University | Recruiting |
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310009 | |
Contact: Wei Luo, PH.D&M.D 13757120109 luoweirock@yahoo.com.cn |
Principal Investigator: | Wei Luo, PH.D&M.D | School of medcine, Zhejiang University |
Responsible Party: | Wei Luo, associate professor, Zhejiang University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01437189 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
WS1851055 |
First Posted: | September 20, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | September 20, 2011 |
Last Verified: | August 2011 |
Parkinson's disease depression sertraline intervention |
Parkinson Disease Depression Depressive Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Parkinsonian Disorders Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders |
Synucleinopathies Neurodegenerative Diseases Sertraline Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Neurotransmitter Agents Serotonin Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs |