Mifepristone Treatment for Patients With Non-psychotic Major Depressive Disorder Receiving Bilateral ECT

Trial ID or NCT#

NCT00285818

Status

not recruiting iconNOT RECRUITING

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to see whether the medication mifepristone is an effective and tolerable treatment for increasing the clinical effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and protecting cognitive function during ECT. Both Mifepristone and ECT appear to normalize hyperfunctioning of the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been found among patients with major depression referred for ECT. The combination of these two treatments in major depression may lead to a more rapid clinical response than ECT alone. Additionally, there appears to be a connection between pre-ECT higher cortisol levels due to HPA axis hyperfunctioning and post-ECT cognitive impairment. Administration of mifepristone prior to and during ECT treatment may reduce cortisol levels and reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment observed after ECT.

Official Title

A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of Mifepristone in Patients With Non-psychotic Major Depressive Disorder Referred for Bilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Investigator(s)

Hugh Brent Solvason PhD MD
Hugh Brent Solvason PhD MD
Psychiatrist
Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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Contact

Maureen Chang
6507254620