Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

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. Investigators hypothesize that administration of an allopregnanolone analog in women with treatment-resistant depression will improve depressive symptoms.


Clinical Trial 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.

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 two months. Investigators hypothesize that administration of the oral allopregnanolone analog in women with treatment-resistant depression will improve depressive symptoms. ;


Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT02766920
Study type Interventional
Source Massachusetts General Hospital
Contact Molly Snell
Phone 617-726-2764
Email msnell1@partners.org
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date September 2016

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT05537558 - Precision Medicine for the Prediction of Treatment (PROMPT) Response (PROMPT)
Terminated NCT02192099 - Open Label Extension for GLYX13-C-202, NCT01684163 Phase 2
Completed NCT03142919 - Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Challenge in Depression Phase 2
Recruiting NCT05547035 - Identification of Physiological Data by a Wearable Monitor in Subjects Suffering From Major Depression Disorders N/A
Terminated NCT02940769 - Neurobiological Effects of Light on MDD N/A
Recruiting NCT05892744 - Establishing Multimodal Brain Biomarkers for Treatment Selection in Depression Phase 4
Recruiting NCT05537584 - SMART Trial to Predict Anhedonia Response to Antidepressant Treatment Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT05061706 - Multicenter Study of Lumateperone as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Phase 3
Completed NCT04479852 - A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of SP-624 in the Treatment of Adults With Major Depressive Disorder Phase 2
Recruiting NCT04032301 - Repeated Ketamine Infusions for Comorbid PTSD and MDD in Veterans Phase 1
Recruiting NCT05527951 - Enhanced Measurement-Based Care Effectiveness for Depression (EMBED) Study N/A
Completed NCT03511599 - Cycloserine rTMS Plasticity Augmentation in Depression Phase 1
Recruiting NCT04392947 - Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder With Bilateral Theta Burst Stimulation N/A
Recruiting NCT05895747 - 5-HTP and Creatine for Depression R33 Phase Phase 2
Recruiting NCT05273996 - Predictors of Cognitive Outcomes in Geriatric Depression Phase 4
Recruiting NCT05813093 - Interleaved TMS-fMRI in Ultra-treatment Resistant Depression N/A
Recruiting NCT05135897 - The Neurobiological Fundaments of Depression and Its Relief Through Neurostimulation Treatments
Enrolling by invitation NCT04509102 - Psychostimulant Augmentation of Repetitive TMS for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Early Phase 1
Recruiting NCT06026917 - Assessing Dopamine Transporter Occupancy in the Patients With Depression Brain With Toludesvenlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets Using 11C-CFT Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Phase 4
Recruiting NCT06145594 - EMA-Guided Maintenance TMS for Depression N/A