A Phase 3 interventional study of Fluoxetine in Bipolar Disorder and Depression, sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Terminated. Open to participants aged 8 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2005-11-21.
Sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
THIS STUDY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
The study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fluoxetine for treating children and adolescents with Bipolar Disorder who are experiencing an episode of major depression while being treated with a mood stabilizer. The study involves a 2-week assessment period. Patients who are on stable, therapeutic doses of lithium or valproate and continue to have depression will be randomized to a 12-week treatment of fluoxetine or placebo. Those who respond favorably to treatment will be followed openly for an 18-week continuation phase.
This NIMH sponsored study is being done to determine the safety and efficacy of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine (Prozac), compared to placebo in the treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder who, while taking a mood stabilizer, are currently experiencing an episode of major depression. Bipolar disorder is a recurrent, episodic illness with key features of severe mood swings from one extreme (depression) to the other extreme (mania). These mood swings and associated symptoms are not similar to the normal mood changes that individuals experience from time to time. A person suffering from bipolar disorder, while in an episode of depression or mania, experiences problems in their functioning in several different areas in his or her life such as interpersonal, social, academic and occupational. Symptoms of depression include sad or irritable mood, sleep and appetite disturbances, trouble concentrating, inability to enjoy things that are normally fun, feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, withdrawal from family and friends, suicidal ideation. Symptoms of mania include extremely happy or irritable mood, little need for sleep, poor judgment, continuous high energy, overconfidence, racing thoughts, increase in social interactions, frequent or constant thoughts about sex. There are varying degrees and types of bipolar disorder.
Pediatric bipolar disorder is now recognized as a significant health problem. Studies of adults have shown that approximately 40% of bipolar patients started to suffer from this disorder during their teens. Bipolar disorder is usually treated with medications, such as lithium or valproate (Depakote), to stabilize the mood swings. Sometimes people with bipolar disorder experience depression, even when they are taking a mood stabilizer medication. When this happens, an antidepressant medication may need to be added to treat the depressive symptoms. The current practice for treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents in the depressed phase follows treatment guidelines developed for adults, but it is unknown whether these treatment strategies are appropriate for children and teens. Few studies have been done in youth.
Fluoxetine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of depression, bulimia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults, but not in children or adolescents. Previous research has shown that fluoxetine is an effective treatment for periods of depression, however, in this study the investigators are evaluating whether it is effective for periods of depression associated with bipolar disorders. In this study, about 100 children and adolescents (ages 8-18 years) who are taking lithium carbonate or valproate (Depakote) and are experiencing depression will be randomized to receive fluoxetine (Prozac) or placebo for 12 weeks. Weekly visits to the clinic are necessary for participation to ensure safety. At the end of the 12 weeks there is an 18-week open treatment period, which will involve clinic visits at least monthly. Those who were taking fluoxetine and improved will continue taking the fluoxetine during this time period. Those who did not improve will either receive an increased dose of fluoxetine or will be assigned to a different medication. Those who were taking placebo and did not improve will be offered treatment with fluoxetine and those who improved with placebo will continue taking only lithium or valproate.
8,057 studies on the registry are indexed under Depression; 1,643 are open to participants now.
Browse Depression studies →National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead sponsor of 359 studies on the registry; 46 are open to participants now.
Of its 25 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 24 (96%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
No study locations are listed for this record.
This study is terminated, as verified in Nov 2000. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)