N-methylglycine (Sarcosine) Treatment for Depression
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Major depressive disorder is a complex disease and most currently available antidepressants
aiming at monoamine neurotransmission exhibit limited efficacy and cognitive effects.
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), one subtype of glutamate receptors, plays an important role in
learning and memory. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) enhancing agents, such as sarcosine
(N-methylglycine), have been used as adjunctive therapy of schizophrenia. Sarcosine improved
not only psychotic but also depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. To confirm
its antidepressant effect, the purpose of this study is to compare citalopram and sarcosine
in efficacy for major depressive patients.