Antidepressant Therapy in Treating Bipolar Type II Major Depression
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00602537 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : January 28, 2008
Results First Posted : April 25, 2017
Last Update Posted : April 25, 2017
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Bipolar Disorder Depression | Drug: Venlafaxine Drug: Lithium Carbonate | Phase 4 |
Bipolar type II (BP II) depression affects 2.5% of the U.S. adult population. People with BP II disorder do not experience the manic episodes that are characteristic of BP I disorder, but rather they experience more modest mood swings with a greater number of major depressive episodes (MDEs). These MDEs are associated with high rates of disease and death. The treatment of BP II depression remains a challenge for clinicians. Mood stabilizer (MS) monotherapy is the current recommended treatment for BD II MDE, but there is reason to believe that antidepressant drug (AD) monotherapy could also be an effective treatment. However, concerns over AD-induced manic switch episodes have limited the use of this treatment option. Preliminary studies using the ADs fluoxetine or venlafaxine have shown success in treating and lowering the manic switch rate of those with BP II MDE. This study will compare the safety and effectiveness of AD monotherapy versus MS monotherapy in treating people with BP II major depression.
Participation in this double-blind study will last up to 9 months. After screening, which includes a medical and psychiatric history review, a physical exam, an electrocardiogram (EKG) test, clinical laboratory tests, a urine-based drug test, and a pregnancy test if applicable, participants will be randomly placed into one of two treatment groups. Participants in the AD monotherapy group will be treated with venlafaxine, and participants in the MS monotherapy group will be treated with lithium. During the first 12 weeks, there will be a total of nine study visits lasting between 45 and 60 minutes. In these visits, participants will receive their study drug and will undergo various assessments, including a review of medication history and side effects, vital sign measurements, and questionnaires about depression and daily functioning. Blood samples will be taken at most visits.
Participants who respond well during the initial 12 weeks of therapy with either drug will have the option to continue treatment for 6 additional months. During this time, participants will continue their assigned treatment and will attend five monthly study visits that will repeat previous assessments and procedures.
For information on a related study, please follow this link:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00044616
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 140 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Treatment of Bipolar Type II Major Depression |
Study Start Date : | December 2007 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 2013 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: I
Antidepressant therapy
|
Drug: Venlafaxine
75 to 375 mg |
Active Comparator: II
Mood stabilizer therapy
|
Drug: Lithium Carbonate
300 to 2400 mg |
- Depressive Relapse [ Time Frame: Weeks 16, 20, 24, 30, 36 ]These subjects must be responders. Outcome measures were obtained at continuation weeks. Participant would be considered "depressive relapse" if relapsed by any of these times.
- Treatment-Emergent Mood Symptoms [ Time Frame: Measured at Weeks 12 and 36 ]These subjects must be responders.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for Axis I bipolar II disorder
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for Axis I major depressive episode
- Score of 16 on 17-item HAM-D rating scale
- Not taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) for more than 2 weeks prior to study entry
- Willing to use an effective form of birth control throughout the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of mania
- Current primary Axis I diagnosis other than bipolar II disorder
- Alcohol or drug dependence within 3 months prior to study entry
- Contraindication to treatment with venlafaxine or lithium
- Unstable medical condition (e.g., thyroid disease, hypertension, or angina pectoris)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Requires hospitalization
- Requires concurrent neuroleptic or MS therapy
- Requires concurrent AD therapy
- Current psychotic features
- Inadequate trial of therapy at the time of initial screening visit
- History of intolerance to either venlafaxine or lithium
- Unlikely to participate in a 36-week trial
- Presence of apparent secondary gain

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): NCT00602537
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Depression Research Unit - University of Pennsylvania | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104-3309 |
Principal Investigator: | Robert J. DeRubeis, PhD | University of Pennsylvania |
Responsible Party: | University of Pennsylvania |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00602537 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
R01MH060353-02 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) R01MH060353-02 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) 2R01MH060353-06A2 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | January 28, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | April 25, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | April 25, 2017 |
Last Verified: | April 2017 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Bipolar Type II Disorder Hypomania Antidepressant Mood Stabilizer Venlafaxine |
Lithium Carbonate Major Depressive Episode Hypomanic Episodes Prevention of Depression Relapse |
Depression Depressive Disorder Bipolar Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Bipolar and Related Disorders Lithium Carbonate Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs |
Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antimanic Agents Tranquilizing Agents Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Neurotransmitter Agents Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation |