Stimulant Enhancement of Well-Being Therapy for Depression
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2015-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study aims to identify a novel enhancement strategy for residual symptoms of major
depressive disorder (MDD) Dopamine (DA) has been viewed as a "pleasure neurotransmitter" for
over 30 years. Yet recent data from animal and human studies suggest that dopamine has
greater effects on "wanting" than on "liking." Therefore, the investigators of this study
have hypothesized that amphetamine/d-amphetamine (AMPH), a medication which increases
dopamine transmission in the reward centers of the brain, may have a more powerful
antidepressant effect in combination with well-being therapy (WBT), a specific type of
cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps individuals with depression to increase their
contact with natural rewards and decrease reward-interfering thoughts.
The investigators will test their hypothesis by randomizing 40 individuals with residual
symptoms of depression, already taking an antidepressant that affects serotonin (e.g. Prozac,
Paxil), to 8 weeks of treatment with either WBT in combination with AMPH, or WBT with pill
placebo. The effectiveness of each treatment will be measured using a reliable scale, called
the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
The investigators have also hypothesized that people assigned to the stimulant/WBT group will
have greater improvements in functioning, well-being, and positive affectivity than those the
people assigned to the WBT/placebo group.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
David P. Soskin,M.D. Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborators:
Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM) Harvard University
Treatments:
Adderall Amphetamine Central Nervous System Stimulants Dextroamphetamine