Thyroid Medication and Antidepressants for Treating Major Depression



Status:Completed
Conditions:Depression, Depression, Major Depression Disorder (MDD)
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 60
Updated:4/21/2016
Start Date:September 1996
End Date:July 2003

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Thyroid Axis in Major Depression

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with supplemental triiodothyronine
(T3, Cytomel) and sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), in
improving symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).

The primary hypothesis is that triiodothyronine (Cytomel) supplementation of the
antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft) will result in a greater improvement in HAM-D scores
compared to placebo in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

The goals of this proposal are to examine the relationship between Major Depressive Disorder
(MDD) and abnormalities of the hypothalamic pituitary thyroid (HPT) axis. This protocol will
systematically examine the value of supplemental triiodothyronine (T3, Cytomel) with
sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in the treatment of
MDD. The focus will be on two overlapping populations: 1) those with evidence of HPT
abnormalities, and 2) those who did not respond to a previous adequate SSRI trial

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or female between the ages of 18 and 60. (The upper age is limited to 60 because
thyroid changes, including blunting of the TSH response to TRH occurs with age and
can potentially confound the relationship between the HPT axis and MDD.)

- Primary diagnosis of unipolar Major Depressive Disorder

- HAM-D (21 item) score >18

Exclusion Criteria:

- Alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence within the past year.

- Psychoactive substance abuse or dependence within the past year.

- Clinical evidence of severe Personality Disorder that would make study participation
and completion unlikely.

- ECT within the past 6 months.

- Grade I hypothyroidism defined as low thyroid hormone levels with an associated
elevated TSH; hyperthyroidism defined as elevated thyroid hormone concentrations with
a low TSH.

- Serious and unstable medical illnesses.
We found this trial at
1
site
201 Dowman Dr
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 727-6123
Emory University Emory University, recognized internationally for its outstanding liberal artscolleges, graduate and professional schools,...
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Atlanta, GA
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