Augmentation of Treatment-Resistant Depression With An Analog of the Neuroactive Steroid Allopregnanolone

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder

Treatments: Drug: Ganaxolone

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02900092

2016P001182

Details and patient eligibility

About

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent and nearly 70% of individuals with MDD do not respond to standard antidepressant therapies despite adequate dosing. An effective and well-tolerated antidepressant augmentation therapy would have important clinical and public health implications. Neuroactive steroid hormones are known to directly activate neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, and thus are potential candidates for augmentation therapies to enhance the effect of traditional antidepressants. The investigators hypothesize that administration of an allopregnanolone analog in women with treatment-resistant depression will improve depressive symptoms.

Full description

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent and can have profoundly negative consequences on one's health, well-being and productivity. Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression during their lifetimes. In fact, it is reported that twelve million women in the U.S. each year will experience depression, and that one in eight women will experience a clinical depressive episode during their lifetimes. Additionally, nearly 70% of individuals with MDD do not respond to standard antidepressant therapies despite adequate dosing. Therefore, the identification of an effective and well tolerated antidepressant augmentation therapy would have important clinical and public health implications. Neuroactive steroid hormones are known to directly activate neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, and thus are potential candidates for augmentation therapies to enhance the effect of traditional antidepressants. Specifically, allopregnanolone, a steroid hormone derived from progesterone, is a potent positive modulator of GABA action at GABA-A receptors, which are known to have positive effects on mood symptoms. Data suggest that depression, chronic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder may be associated with low central nervous system allopregnanolone levels. The investigators propose to administer an oral allopregnanolone analog to 10 postmenopausal women with treatment-resistant depression as an add-on therapy to their current treatment for a period of 8 weeks followed by a 2-week taper. The investigators hypothesize that administration of the oral allopregnanolone analog in women with treatment-resistant depression will improve depressive symptoms.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 50 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Female, age 50-75
2. Postmenopausal
3. Major Depressive Disorder
4. Currently treated with SSRI or SNRI at adequate dose

Exclusion criteria

1. Serious suicide or homicide risk
2. Unstable medical illness
3. Substance use disorder
4. Psychosis
5. Use of hormones (estrogens, androgens or related hormones)
6. History of hormone responsive cancer
7. Receiving strong CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors or who intend to consume grapefruit products regularly during the study
8. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or creatinine > 3x upper limit of normal

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 1 patient group

Ganaxolone

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received ganaxolone

Treatment:

Drug: Ganaxolone