Duloxetine Treatment in Elderly With Dysthymia

Completed · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Depression, Dysthymic Disorder

In brief

Dysthymic disorder (DD) denotes chronic depression with fewer symptoms than major depressive disorder (MDD), and it affects \~ 2-4 % of adults with a similar prevalence in the elderly. In the elderly, dysthymic disorder (DD) has been shown to be associated with suffering and disability. The differences between young adult and elderly DD patients indicate that findings obtained in young adults with DD cannot be extrapolated to elderly DD patients who need to be studied separately. Data from epidemiologic studies support this view. In contrast to the data in young adult DD patients, there is a paucity of controlled data on the treatment of elderly DD patients. In our center, a double-masked, placebo-controlled study of 91 elderly DD patients did not find significant superiority for fluoxetine over placebo with response rates of 27.3% for fluoxetine and 19.6% for placebo in intent-to-treat analyses, and response rates of 37.5% for fluoxetine and 23.1% for placebo in completer analyses. Given the relative failure of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) to treat geriatric DD effectively, the investigators decided to evaluate the dual reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine. The investigators earlier completed an investigator-initiated, open-label 12-week venlafaxine (Effexor XR) trial. Of 23 elderly DD patients, 18 completed the trial. Fourteen (60.9%) were responders in intent-to-treat analyses with the last observation carried forward, and 77.8% were responders in completer analyses. Nearly half the sample (47.8%) met criteria for remission. In the intent-to-treat sample, increased severity of depression at baseline was associated with superior response and the presence of cardiovascular disease was associated with poorer response. These results with venlafaxine indicate that further treatment studies of dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like duloxetine are warranted in elderly patients with dysthymic disorder.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT01852383
Run by: New York State Psychiatric Institute
People needed: 30
Starts: 2006-01-01
Expected to finish: 2013-03-01
Last updated by the study team: 2014-05-01

Who can join

Age: 60 and older, up to 95. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Diagnosis of dysthymic disorder (SCID and DSM-IV)
Age 60 - 95
Mini-Mental State Score ≥ 24
24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score 12-25
Willing and capable of giving informed consent

You may not qualify if…

Current major depressive episode (SCID and DSM-IV)
Alcohol or substance dependence during the last year (SCID and DSM-IV)
Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders(SCID and DSM-IV)
Clinical stroke, dementia, Huntington's disease, epilepsy or other major neurological disease
Acute unstable medical conditions
Active suicidal ideation or plan
Non-response to duloxetine (minimum 90 mg/day for 6 weeks) during the past year
A positive urine drug screen for substances of abuse or dependence
Sensitivity with intolerability to duloxetine
Use of other medications that may interact with duloxetine, including inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), e.g., quinolone antibiotics and type 1-C anti-arrhythmics. Several antidepressant medications, including most SSRIs, are inhibitors of CYP2D6 but these medications are not permitted during this antidepressant treatment trial.
Patients with hypertension (BP >140/90 mm Hg on 2 consecutive measurements). For patients with treated hypertension and BP >140/90, written approval must be obtained from patient's internist allowing them to participate in this study.
Known liver damage or disease

Where it is running

New York State Psychiatric Institute — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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