Evaluation of Depression Symptoms and Brain Activity Associated With Response to Treatment of Depression

This study will use measurements of depression symptoms and brain activity to determine what factors may influence an individual's response to treatment for depression.

We are using depression symptom measurements and measurements of brain electrical activity (EEG) to determine what factors may influence whether a patient is likely to show a response to antidepressant medication, placebo, or only clinical visits (without the use of pills) during a treatment trial for depression.

• Drug: venlafaxine (Effexor)
  Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.
• Drug: duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.
• Drug: escitalopram (Lexapro)
  Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.
• Other: placebo
  Subjects assigned to the placebo (PBO) or medication (MED) condition will enter double-blind treatment with either venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, escitalopram, or placebo after lead-in. They will undergo the same schedule, structure, and intensity of visits as in the ICI condition, but also will be randomized to receive treatment with a pill. Subjects randomized to medication will be started on one tablet each morning of either venlafaxine XR 75 mg., duloxetine 30 mg., or escitalopram 10 mg. Dosages will be increased in a double-blinded manner by increasing the number of pills administered by one pill every three to five days until the final dose is achieved (225 mg., 90 mg., and 30 mg. respectively for venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, and escitalopram). In order to maintain blinding during dosage increase, the number of tablets of placebo will be increased every three to five days as well.

• Active Comparator: 1
  venlafaxine XR
  Intervention: Drug: venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Active Comparator: 2
  duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  Intervention: Drug: duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Active Comparator: 3
  escitalopram (Lexapro)
  Intervention: Drug: escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Placebo Comparator: placebo
  Intervention: Other: placebo
• No Intervention: ICI
  Subjects assigned to the interpersonal clinical interaction (ICI) will undergo a one-week waiting period after the initial assessment. Visits will involve a session with a research nurse that will be approximately 20 minutes in length; visits at baseline, end of lead-in, and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks also will include a brief (5-10 minutes) meeting with a physician.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of unipolar major depression

Exclusion Criteria:

• Substance abuse
• Psychotic disorder
• History of severe head trauma

• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer