Authorised Therapeutic confirmatory (Phase III) Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as augmentation of standard antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized controlled trial (DARE-Trial)

EU CTIS ID: 2024-517963-21-00

What this study is testing

To determine whether add-on 100 mg/d DHEA to continued standard antidepressant medication improves depression to a greater extent than add-on placebo in subjects with treatment-resistant depression

  • Therapeutic confirmatory (Phase III)

A plain-language read of the study's public EU CTIS listing. The study team confirms the details.

Who can take part

You may be able to join if

  • Patient provided written informed consent
  • The patient is capable of giving consent (has sufficient knowledge of German and clearly understands the nature, significance and scope, including risks, of the medical procedure)
  • The patients is aged between 18 and 75 years (≥ 18 and ≤ 75)
  • The patient has an episode of major depression according to DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition)
  • The patient has treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as non-response to at least one 4-week antidepressant treatment trial (including the current treatment) in the index episode (corresponding to level 1 resistance to treatment failure according to the Maudsley staging method)
  • The patient has a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of ≥ 20

You likely can't join if

  • The patient has current clinically significant suicidal ideation with intent, corresponding to a score of 4 or 5 for ideation on the C-SSRS, or a suicidal attempt within the past 6 months, as indicated by the C-SSRS at screening visit
  • The patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • The patient of childbearing age shows an unwillingness to use an effective contraceptive method (defined as a Pearl Index < 1)
  • The patient fulfills the criteria for psychotic depression according to DSM-5
  • The patient currently has or has a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)
  • The patient currently has or has a history of arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g. angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke)
See the full eligibility criteria
Who can join
  • Patient provided written informed consent
  • The patient is capable of giving consent (has sufficient knowledge of German and clearly understands the nature, significance and scope, including risks, of the medical procedure)
  • The patients is aged between 18 and 75 years (≥ 18 and ≤ 75)
  • The patient has an episode of major depression according to DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition)
  • The patient has treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as non-response to at least one 4-week antidepressant treatment trial (including the current treatment) in the index episode (corresponding to level 1 resistance to treatment failure according to the Maudsley staging method)
  • The patient has a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of ≥ 20
  • The patient is receiving antidepressant medication (SSRI or SNRI or tricyclic antidepressant or mirtazapine or bupropion) for at least 4 weeks, the dosage is at least at the approved minimum therapeutic dosage and has been unchanged for at least 14 days prior to screening visit.
  • The patient had less than three (<3) treatment attempts with antidepressants in the current MDE (current treatment attempts not included).
What rules you out
  • The patient has current clinically significant suicidal ideation with intent, corresponding to a score of 4 or 5 for ideation on the C-SSRS, or a suicidal attempt within the past 6 months, as indicated by the C-SSRS at screening visit
  • The patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • The patient of childbearing age shows an unwillingness to use an effective contraceptive method (defined as a Pearl Index < 1)
  • The patient fulfills the criteria for psychotic depression according to DSM-5
  • The patient currently has or has a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)
  • The patient currently has or has a history of arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g. angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke)
  • The patient has a thrombophilic disease (e.g. protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiency)
  • The patient has porphyria
  • The patient has clinically significant untreated hypothyroidism
  • The patient has clinically significant abnormalities in the 12-lead ECG (e.g. prolongation of the QTc interval ≥ 500 ms) as performed during screening visit
  • The patient is a vulnerable person (defined as: persons deprived their liberty, confined to an institution by court or administrative order, persons that may have Insufficient power, intelligence, education, resources, strength, or other needed attributes to protect their own interests, or unable to explicitly give consent)
  • The patient has or has had sex hormone-dependent cancer (e.g. breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer)
  • The patient might be dependent on representative of the sponsor, the investigator or the trial site
  • The patient is currently participating in another interventional clinical trial.
  • The patient's laboratory values show clinically significant abnormalities
  • The patient meets the criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder in M.I.N.I according to DSM-5
  • The patient currently has liver disease with liver-specific levels outside the age- and gender-specific reference intervals [elevations of GOT or GPT above 3 times the upper normal value (ULN)]
  • The patient meets the criteria for a dependency disorder in the M.I.N.I. for DSM-5
  • The patient has dementia or moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
  • The Patient is currently taking DHEA or has taken it within the last 14 days prior to screening visit.
  • The patients is currently taking hormone replacement therapy with sex hormones (other than contraceptives)
  • The patient has undiagnosed genital bleeding
  • The patient is allergic or has contraindication to DHEA or lactulose and cellulose
  • The patient has untreated endometrial hyperplasia
  • The patient has diagnosis of prostatic hyperplasia.
  • The patient has a medical history of liver failure and/or bilirubin above 3 times the normal range and reduced total protein.
  • The patient has previous diagnosis of chronic kidney disease stage G3b (or higher) or GFR < 30 ml/min.
  • The Patient is taking antidepressants other than those listed as inclusion criterion (SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic antidepressants, bupropion, mirtazapine)
  • The patient is taking psychotropic medication, e.g. antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, lithium or Johannis herbs. Allowed substances include benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines (Zopiclon, Zolpidem or Eszopiclon) and antidepressants listed under inclusion criteria.
  • The patient is using non-selective, irreversible MAO inhibitors (e.g. tranylcypromine) or selective, reversible MAO-A inhibitors (e.g. moclobemide) or the reversible non-selective MAO inhibitor linezolid
  • The patient has insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • The patient has an untreated and unstable general medical condition (e.g. hypertension with end organ damage or hypertensive derailment)

The study team makes the final eligibility decision.

Questions & answers

Do participants get paid in this trial?

This listing doesn't specify compensation. Many trials still reimburse travel or offer a stipend, so it's worth asking the study team when you connect.

Is it free to join, and do I need insurance?

Searching and applying through BridgeMD is free. In clinical trials the study-related treatment and visits are generally provided at no cost to you. You usually don't need insurance to take part - confirm specifics with the study team.

How long does this study last?

The listing doesn't state an exact length. The study team walks you through the schedule and number of visits before you decide to enroll.

Who can join this trial?

This study is enrolling all sexes, 65+ years, 18-64 years. The study team makes the final eligibility decision.

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BridgeMD is an information and trial-matching tool - not medical advice, and not the study sponsor. Details come from EU CTIS; the study team decides eligibility.