Risperidone and Suicidality in Major Depressive Disorder

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Drug: Risperidone and placebo comparator

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT00167154

F030929002

RIS-DED-402

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this trial is to investigate the efficacy of risperidone as an adjunct to an antidepressant treatment in the acute management of suicidality during an episode of major depressive disorder.

Full description

Using a double blind, placebo-controlled design, subjects diagnosed with a current episode of major depressive disorder (defined by DSM-IV criteria and supported by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), severe with suicidality despite currently taking an antidepressant, will be enrolled in the eight-week study. The treatment will be initiated by randomizing patients to receive risperidone or placebo in addition to the antidepressant that the patient is already taking. The clinical efficacy will be evaluated after 4 days, weekly for 4 weeks, then every other week for 4 weeks with the efficacy measures. During the eight-week study, treatment with risperidone or placebo will continue at the highest effective dosage (up to 2 mg per day). The dose of the antidepressant will not be changed during the study.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 19-60 years of age
2. Diagnosis of major depressive disorder, currently severe with suicidality
3. A total score of Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) =/> 25 with the suicide sub-score =/> 4
4. Currently is taking an antidepressant at a therapeutic dose for longer than 3 weeks
5. In good physical health

Exclusion criteria

1. Depression without suicidality
2. Presence of major psychiatric conditions other than major depressive disorder, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorders (except for generalized anxiety disorder)
3. Depressive symptoms induced by alcohol or substance abuse
4. Psychotic features which are predominant at the initial evaluation
5. Unstable major medical illness, such as cardiac disease or diabetes
6. Female subjects who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or, if of child-bearing potential, unwilling to use adequate birth control measures

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

risperidone

Experimental group

Description:

risperidone

Treatment:

Drug: Risperidone and placebo comparator

placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

placebo comparator

Treatment:

Drug: Risperidone and placebo comparator