Depression — Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D)
Citation(s)
Adli M, Rush AJ, Möller HJ, Bauer M Algorithms for optimizing the treatment of depression: making the right decision at the right time. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2003 Nov;36 Suppl 3:S222-9. Review.
Fava M, Rush AJ Current status of augmentation and combination treatments for major depressive disorder: a literature review and a proposal for a novel approach to improve practice. Psychother Psychosom. 2006;75(3):139-53. Review.
Gaynes, B N., Davis, L., Rush A.J., Trivedi, M., Fava, M., Wisniewski, S.R. The aims and design of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. Primary Psychiatry, 12(2):36-41, 2005.
Gilmer WS, Kemp DE STAR*D: What Have We Learned Thus Far? International Drug Therapy Newsletter 41:75-82, 2006.
Perlis RH, Fraguas R, Fava M, Trivedi MH, Luther JF, Wisniewski SR, Rush AJ Prevalence and clinical correlates of irritability in major depressive disorder: a preliminary report from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;66(2):159-66; quiz 147, 273-4.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
