Optimizing Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2006-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administered with medication for the treatment of a major depressive episode (unipolar or bipolar) and will compare two types of ECT.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Collaborator: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Treatments: Lithium Carbonate; Nortriptyline; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Major depressive episode (unipolar or bipolar)

• Pre-ECT score of 20 or higher on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

• Able to withdraw psychotropic drugs (up to 3 mg/day lorazepam allowed)

• ECT indicated

Exclusion Criteria:

• Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychosis

• Amnestic disorder, dementia, or delirium

• Pregnancy

• Epilepsy

• Current alcohol or substance abuse or dependence

• CNS disease or brain injury not associated with psychotropic drug exposure

• ECT in the past 6 months

• Medical contraindication for treatment with either nortriptyline or venlafaxine, including allergy to amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or venlafaxine; narrow angle glaucoma; sinus node disease; bundle branch disease; myocardial infarction; coronary artery bypass or angioplasty; or angina

• Type I antiarrhythmic medication

• Supine blood pressure >= 170 mmHg systolic or >= 105 mmHg diastolic at 3 readings over 2 days