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Medication Treatment for Depression in Nursing Home Residents
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), August 2008
Sponsored by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information provided by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00076622
  Purpose

This study will examine therapeutic and adverse effects of continuing versus discontinuing antidepressant medication in nursing home residents who have had no more than a single episode of depression and who no longer have depressive symptoms.


Condition Intervention Phase
Depression
Drug: Antidepressant medication
Drug: No antidepressant medication
Phase IV

MedlinePlus related topics: Antidepressants Depression Nursing Homes
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: Drug Treatment of Depression in the Nursing Home Aged

Further study details as provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale total Score [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Number of falls [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment: 240
Study Start Date: November 2003
Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2008
Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
1: Experimental
Participants assigned to continue current antidepressant medication
Drug: Antidepressant medication
Participants assigned to continue current medication will be monitored over a period of one year for recurrence of depression and related symptoms.
2: Experimental
Participants assigned to discontinue current antidepressant medication
Drug: No antidepressant medication
Participants assigned to discontinue current medication will be monitored over a period of one year for recurrence of depression and related symptoms.

Detailed Description:

There are approximately 1.6 million nursing home residents in the United States. More than one third of these residents are taking antidepressant medications (ADs). Although ADs are effective, evidence suggests that they can lead to significant adverse events, including an increased risk of falls and bone fractures. Many depressed nursing home residents suffer from an initial episode of late-life depression and do not meet guideline-based recommendations for maintenance treatment. This study will examine the benefits and risks of long-term AD treatment in depressed nursing home residents whose single episode of depression has been in continuous remission for at least six months.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either continue or discontinue AD treatment. Participants will be monitored over a period of one year for recurrence of depression and related symptoms, as well as for the occurrence of falls, fractures, and other adverse events. Medical chart review, self-reported mood symptoms, and depression scales will be used to assess participants.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   65 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Current use of antidepressant medication
  • Have been in remission from first episode of depression for 6 months or longer
  • Currently residing in a long term care or assisted living facility

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Bedridden
  • Severe cognitive impairment
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00076622

Contacts
Contact: Suzanne DiFilippo 215-349-8228 difilipp@mail.med.upenn.edu
Contact: Joel E. Streim, MD 215-349-8226 jstreim@mail.med.upenn.edu

Locations
United States, Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Recruiting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
Principal Investigator: Joel E. Streim, MD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Joel E. Streim, MD University of Pennsylvania
  More Information

Responsible Party: National Institute of Mental Health ( Jovier Evans, PhD, Program Officer )
Study ID Numbers: R37 MH51247, DSIR AT-GP
Study First Received: January 28, 2004
Last Updated: August 19, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00076622  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
Antidepressant drugs
Nursing Homes

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Depression
Mental Disorders
Mood Disorders
Depressive Disorder
Behavioral Symptoms

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 30, 2009