L-DOPA vs. Placebo for Depression and Psychomotor Slowing in Older Adults
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03761030 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(The project end date was reached prior to the full sample enrollment)
First Posted : December 3, 2018
Results First Posted : May 22, 2023
Last Update Posted : May 22, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Major Depressive Disorder Dysthymia Depression | Drug: L-DOPA Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet | Phase 4 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 51 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Double Blind |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Targeting Dopaminergic Mechanisms of Slowing to Improve Late Life Depression |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 9, 2019 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | September 8, 2021 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 8, 2021 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: L-DOPA Arm
Those assigned to L-DOPA will begin taking 37.5mg carbidopa/150 mg levodopa once daily (with placebo twice daily) for one week, then increase to 75mg carbidopa/300mg levodopa (37.5 mg carbidopa/150mg levodopa twice daily and placebo once daily) for one week, and finally increase to 112.5mg carbidopa/450mg levodopa (37.5 mg carbidopa/150mg levodopa three times daily and no placebo) for the final six weeks. Each subject assigned to the L-DOPA arm will be titrated to 450mg L-DOPA unless they cannot tolerate higher doses, in which case subjects will have their dosage reduced to the maximum tolerable dose
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Drug: L-DOPA
We will be using generic sinemet 25/100 tablets in this study.
Other Name: carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet) |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Arm
Subjects assigned to the placebo arm will take placebo oral tablet three times daily throughout the study.
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Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet
25/100 placebo tablets
Other Name: Placebo |
- Change From Baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 24-Item Scale to Study Completion (8 Weeks) [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) is a 24-item questionnaire used as an indication of depression and a guide to evaluate recovery. Total scores range from 0-74, not including atypical symptoms sub-scale. A score of 16 or above is typically considered to indicate the presence of depressive symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
- Digit Symbol Test [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]The Digit Symbol test is a neuropsychological test measuring information processing speed. It consists of digit-symbol pairs (e.g. 1/-,2/┴ ... 7/Λ,8/X,9/=) followed by a list of digits. Under each digit the subject should write down the corresponding symbol as fast as possible. The number of correct symbols within the allowed time is measured. Score ranges from 0-133, with higher scores indicating higher information processing speed. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
- Single Task Gait Speed [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]Patients' gait was assessed as walking speed in cm/s on a 15' walking course. Patients walked at their usual or normal speed for a total of 27' (starting and ending at a point 6 feet prior to and after the 15' course to eliminate acceleration and deceleration effects). Two trials were completed, and gait speed was based on the average of 2 trials. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
- Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology--Self Report (IDS-SR) [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]The Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology--Self Report (IDS-SR) is a rating scale for depressive symptoms based on standard diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. The scale ranges from 0-84 with higher scores indicating more severe depression. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
- Pattern Comparison Test [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]This test required participants to identify whether two visual patterns are the "same" or "not the same" (responses were made by pressing a "yes" or "no" button). Patterns were either identical or varied on one of three dimensions: color (all ages), adding/taking something away (all ages), or one versus many. Scores reflect the number of correct items completed in 90 s, with scores ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 30. Items were designed to minimize the number of errors that were made. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
- Letter Comparison Test [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline to 8 Weeks ]Subjects were asked to determine whether two strings of letters are the same or different. There are 3 pages and the subject is given 30 seconds per page. Scoring is based on the number answered correctly. Scores range from 0 to 21, with the higher the number, the better the score. Because the full sample was not enrolled and the results are considered unreliable, no statistical analysis was performed other than calculating means and standard deviations.
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Ages Eligible for Study: | 60 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 60 years and older
- DSM 5 non-psychotic Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, or Depression Not Otherwise Specified
- Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) > 15
- Decreased processing speed (defined as performance > 0.5SD below age-adjusted norms on Digit Symbol Substitution Test or Trail Making Test Part A) OR decreased gait speed (defined as average walking speed over 15' course < 1m/s)
- Willing to and capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures
- Alternative standard treatments for MDD, Dysthymia, or Depression NOS (e.g., antidepressant medication or psychotherapy) have been discussed and the individual agrees to be involved in an experimental treatment.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence (excluding Tobacco Use Disorder) within the past 12 months.
- History of or current psychosis, psychotic disorder, mania, or bipolar disorder
- Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, or Parkinson's Disease (PD)
- Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) < 25
- HRSD ≥ 28; HRSD suicide item > 2 or the presence of significant suicide risk as judged by clinician or Clinical Global Impressions (CGI)-Severity score of 7 at baseline.
- Current or recent (within the past 4 weeks) treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotics, dopaminergic agents, or mood stabilizers.
- History of allergy, hypersensitivity reaction, or severe intolerance to L-DOPA
- Acute, severe, or unstable medical or neurological illness
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Mobility limiting osteoarthritis of any lower extremity joints, symptomatic lumbar spine disease, mobility limiting history of joint replacement surgery, or history of spine surgery
FOR SUBJECTS RECEIVING PET/MRI SCANS ONLY:
- Having contraindication to MRI scanning (such as metal in body) or unable to tolerate the scanning procedures
- History of significant radioactivity exposure (nuclear medicine studies or occupational exposure)
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): NCT03761030
United States, New York | |
New York State Psychiatric Institute | |
New York, New York, United States, 10032 |
Principal Investigator: | Bret Rutherford, MD | New York State Psychiatric Institute |
Documents provided by Bret Rutherford, New York State Psychiatric Institute:
Responsible Party: | Bret Rutherford, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03761030 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
7733 4R33MH110029-03 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | December 3, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | May 22, 2023 |
Last Update Posted: | May 22, 2023 |
Last Verified: | May 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Depressive symptoms Cognitive problems Antidepressant non-response |
Dopamine system Older Adults Motor slowing |
Depression Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Dysthymic Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Levodopa Carbidopa Carbidopa, levodopa drug combination Antiparkinson Agents |
Anti-Dyskinesia Agents Dopamine Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Physiological Effects of Drugs Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Adjuvants, Immunologic Immunologic Factors Dopamine Agonists |